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MEMOIR 



THE C HIS HOLM, 



LATE M.P. FOR INVERNESS-SHIRE. 



BY THE REVEREND 

JAMES S. M. ANDERSON, M.A. 

CHAPLAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE QUEEN, 

CHAPLAIN TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER, 

AND PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, BRIGHTON. 




ERCHLESS CASTLE. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON, 

st. paul's church yard, and Waterloo place, pall mall: 

SOLD BY BELL & BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH; J. SMITH, INVERNESS, 

& ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN BRIGHTON. 

1842. 



/ • Y>* 






CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

itroductory remarks — Family descent — Early 
childhood of the Chisholm I 



CHAPTER II. 

Goes to Eton — His letters, &c. during the early part 
of his stay there 13 



CHAPTER III. 

At Eton — His letters, &c. during the latter part of 
his stav there 28 



CHAPTER IV. 

Goes to Brighton — and thence to Cambridge ... 44 



VI CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V. 



PAGE 

Attains his majority, and resides at Erchless Castle 
— Notice of the clan — His political opinions and 
conduct 55 



CHAPTER VI. 

Promotes the work of education, &c. — Proposes 
Macleod for the county of Inverness 73 



CHAPTER VII. 

Is himself elected member for the county .... 91 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Letters to his mother and sister 107 

CHAPTER IX. 

Visit to Strathpeffer — Further correspondence . .131 

CHAPTER X. 

Further correspondence with his mother . . . .149 



CONTENTS. Vll 



CHAPTER XI. 

PAGE 

Further correspondence — His brother leaves Eng- 
land for Canada 171 



CHAPTER XII. 

Conduct in Parliament — Elected a second time mem- 
ber for the county of Inverness — Letters from 
Leamington — Resigns his seat .190 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Proposes the Master of Grant — His feelings towards 
the church of Scotland — and the church of Rome 212 



CHAPTER XIV. 

His last illness— -death — and burial . . . . -. .232 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. FAMILY DESCENT. — EARLY 

CHILDHOOD OF THE CHISHQLM. 

When the writer of the following Memoir 
complied with the request made to him, that 
he would arrange the materials of which it 
was to be composed, he was quite aware that 
the pleasure which he felt in undertaking to 
do this would be diminished by causes which 
were inherent in the nature of the work 
itself. 

To that portion of the public, for instance, 
whose sated appetite craves ever for excite- 
ment, he saw that the contents of the papers 
entrusted to his hands would not be welcome ; 
for they consist, for the most part, only of 
letters written by the late Ohisholm to two of 

B 



2 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

his nearest relatives, who were the most 
anxious for their publication, on account of 
the moral advantage which they believed would 
result from a more extended knowledge of the 
character therein set forth. They supply not, 
however, any train of stirring enterprise or 
varied incident ; neither is the mental history 
w ? hich they illustrate remarkable for those 
sudden changes and contrasts which so often 
create an interest in the speculative observers 
of human nature. 

By those, again, who were not personally 
acquainted with the subjeet of this Memoir, 
and remembered only the general outline of 
the position which he occupied in the world, 
he felt that the doubt might possibly be en- 
tertained, whether any circumstances asso- 
ciated with his public character could author 
rize the intrusion of them upon public notice ; 
and this very doubt, he apprehended, would 
make such persons indifferent to the state- 
ments which might be advanced respecting 
him. 

To those, moreover, who knew and loved 
his excellencies, as they witnessed them in 
their daily converse with him, and who believe 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 6 

that the further knowledge of them by others 
may, under the Divine Blessing, be found to 
work as an instrument of good among the 
professing members of the Church of Christ, 
he was conscious that he might appear pain- 
fully deficient in his attempt to delineate the 
character of the ircommon friend. For, not 
only was he subject to the difficulty incident 
to all such attempts, — that of adequately de- 
scribing qualities which are already enshrined 
in the memory and affections of those who 
knew them, — and the greatness of which diffi- 
culty the heathen orator confessed, when he 
was called upon to speak over the grave of his 
departed fellow-citizens l ; but he knew that it 
was likely to be increased, in the present in- 
stance, from the scantiness of the documents 
placed at his disposal, and from his not being 
able to make good this deficiency by his own 
knowledge of the places or persons mentioned 
in them. 

These facts are adverted to, not from any 

vain belief that the obstacles connected with 

them could be overcome, but simply from the 

conviction in the mind of the writer, that, in 

1 Thucyd. ii. 35. 

B 2 



4 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

spite of them all, it was his duty to comply 
with the request made to him. For, the 
character here exhibited is that of a Christian 
Gentleman, possessing rich gifts of intellect 
and warm affection, of hereditary rank and 
influence ; and, in the prime of his manhood, 
when temptations were not wanting to beguile 
him of them, devoting these instruments of 
usefulness to the service and glory of God 
who gave them. A character not rare, in- 
deed, in this our day; yea, rather, let the 
acknowledgment be thankfully made, that it 
is one out of many glorious witnesses to tell 
us that the blessings vouchsafed to our spi- 
ritual Zion are not bestowed upon it in vain ; 
and, that, amid much which causeth shame 
and confusion of face, there are those, on the 
right hand and on the left, standing in the 
high places of the earth, and wielding success- 
fully its energies of wisdom and of might, who 
confess, by their daily Christian walk, that, 
in the possession of external advantages, a 
louder call is addressed to them to remember 
whose they are and whom they serve. In the 
hope, therefore, that the number of such men 
may be more and more enlarged, by delineat- 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. O 

ing, howsoever faintly or imperfectly, a por- 
trait which they may contemplate, — that they, 
who are to follow in the path of worldly dis- 
tinction, may, by marking the course which 
has been traversed by one like themselves, in 
their turn, be animated and sustained, and 
follow him as he followed Christ; and that 
they may be the more incited to do this, by 
the testimony which his early death supplies, 
that their " sun," like his, may go " down 
while it is yet day 2 " and the darkness of the 
grave overspread their life in its brightest 
noontide ; — that such lessons may be learnt, 
such encouragements and warnings derived, 
from these pages, has been, and is, the single 
desire, the earnest prayer, of him who now 
commends them to the notice of the reader. 

The subject of this Memoir was, as his 
name bears witness, the Chief of a Highland 
Clan which, although not numerous, is an- 
cient. It may not be void of interest to give 
some few notices of his family descent, for 
which the writer is indebted to the kindness 
and research of a dear and valued college 

2 Jer. xv. 9. 



FAMILY DESCENT. 

friend. It forms, of course, no part of his 
plan to enter into any minute details upon 
this subject ; still less is he prepared to offer- 
any opinion upon the question whether the 
Ohisholms are to be ranked, as they them- 
selves maintain, among the Gaelic clans, or, 
with others, of Norman origin 3 ; neither does 
he presume to say upon which side lies the 
strongest argument in the controversies for 
precedency which, from time to time, have 
been carried on between the Ohisholms of the 
Highlands, and the family of the same name 
who were early settled in Berwick and Rox- 
burghshire \ He confines himself only to the 
extracts which have been kindly forwarded to 
him, and finds there that the first of the 
name who was known in the North was Sir 
Robert Chisholme, who had numerous lands 
in Urquhart, and was keeper of the royal 
castle of Urquhart on Loch Ness, in the 
reign of Robert II. 5 He was married to a 

3 See Appendix to the Second Volume of Skene's High- 
landers of Scotland, and Macculloch's Letters on the 
Highlands to Sir Walter Scott, vol. iv. p. 410. 

4 Ragman Rolls. 

5 Reg. mag. sig. Sir R. Chisholme is styled dominus 
ejusdem in 1362. Regist. Morav. 



FAMILY DESCENT. 

grand - daughter of Sir Bobert Lauder of 
Quarrelwood ; and it was by that marriage 
he acquired at least part of his lands in 
Inverness-shire 6 . On the 2nd of January, 
1364, he gave his daughter Janet in mar- 
riage to Hugh Rose, of Kilravoch, with the 
lands of Cantray and others in Strathnairn 7 , 
which he warranted equal to a ten merk land, 
and engaged to procure an heritable title 
to them from his grandfather, Sir Robert 
Lauder. In right of his wife, Sir Robert 
Chisholme succeeded to the estates of Quar- 
relwood, Kinstearie, and Brightmonie, in the 
shires of Elgin and Nairn 8 ; and his son and 
heir was John Chisholme of that ilk and of 
Quarrelwood, whose succession went w r ith 
his daughter Morella to the Sutherlands of 
Duffus. 

Alexander, the brother of John Ohisholm, 
who became heir, upon the death of his bro- 
ther without male issue, acquired lands in 
the Aird, held under the bishop of Moray, 
by marriage with Margaret, a daughter of 
the family of Arde, in 1368 9 . 

G Kilravoch Writs. 1 Ibid. 8 Regist. Morav. 

9 The mode in which these lands were made over is 



8 FAMILY DESCENT. 

In 1403 there is an indenture between 
William de Fen ton and Margaret de la 
Arde \ of Ercles, together with Thomas de 
Oheshelme, her son and heir, dividing nume- 
rous lands in Forfar, Perth, Lanark, Aber- 
deen, and the lands of the Arde in Inverness- 
shire, of all which Fenton and Margaret were 
heirs portioners. From that period, the 
Chisholms appear to have held the lands of 
Corner in Strathglass, with Ercles, &c. ; and 
in 1443 the name of Vylandus de Oheshelme 
appears as a witness to a charter of the Lord 
of the Isles. In 1498, there is another docu- 
ment bearing the name of Weland Chisholm, 
of Comer; again, in 1517, is found Willein 
Chisholm, of Comer-moir ; and, in 1539, Wil- 
liam Chisholm of Comer. 

Without tracing, however, the subsequent 
descents of the family, or enumerating the 

thus described in Regist. Morav. — c In festo Beatse Trini- 
tatis, in camera domini Alex. D. G. Episcopi Moraviensis 
apud Spiny, presente tota multitudine canonicorum et 
capellanorum et aliorum ad prandium ibi invitatorum, 
Alexander de Chisholme comportionarius dicti Willelmide 
Fenton, fecit dicto domino Alexandro D. G. Episcopo 
Moraviensi homaginem, junctis manibus et discooperto 
capite, pro iisdem terris de le Esse et Kyntallargy.' 
1 Her maiden name according to the Scotch style. 



EARLY CHILDHOOD. ^ 

various charters from the Crown, by which 
they hold possession of their lands, &c. it 
may only be stated further, that their High- 
land residence has acquired for them the 
clan name of " Siosalach," or Chisallich 2 , 
and the Laird for the time being, in his own 
country, is styled "The Chisholm." 

Alexander William Chisholm, the 
subject of this Memoir, was born at Castle 
Hill, near Inverness, on the 15th of February, 
1810. His father died at Collumpton in 
Devonshire, w 7 hen Alexander was not more 
than seven years old ; by which event, the 
care of himself, his brother Duncan Macdon- 
nell, and his sister Jemima, who was born 
three months after her father's death, de- 
volved almost entirely upon their mother, who 
was the second daughter of Macdonnell of 
Glengarry. His mother was subsequently 
married to Sir Thomas Ramsay, of Balmain, 
Baronet. Mr. Charles Grant, (now Lord 
Glenelg,) Mr. John Peter Grant, of Rothie- 

2 See Appendix, p. x. in the First Volume of Major- 
General Stewart's Sketches of the Character, Manners, 
&c. of the Highlanders of Scotland. 



10 EARLY CHILDHOOD. 

merchus, (now one of the judges in the 
Supreme Court at Calcuttta,) Sir Hugh Innes, 
of Loch Alsh, Bart, (since dead), and Wm. 
Mackenzie, of Muirton, esq., W. S., were 
associated, with their mother, as guardians of 
the children ; but the main charge of carrying 
on and watching over their education devolved, 
of course, upon their mother: and to this 
duty she devoted herself, with an assiduity 
and care that knew no weariness. 

Soon after the death of their father, the 
two brothers were placed at school, under the 
care of the Rev. William Reid, of Midsummer 
Norton, near Radstock, in Somersetshire ; but 
remained there only for a short period, on 
account of the weak state of Alexander's 
health, which had been brought on by a severe 
rheumatic fever, and made him, for many 
months afterwards, the object of deep anxiety 
to his mother. She removed him successively, 
for change of air, to Clifton, Weymouth, Mal- 
vern, and Bath ; at which latter place his 
brother had meanwhile been left at school. 
And, as Soon as his health and strength were 
restored sufficiently to allow him to leave once 
more his mother's roof, the two brothers were 



EARLY CHILDHOOD. 11 

entrusted to the charge of the Rev. Mr. Fen- 
dall, of Nazing, in Essex, with whom they 
remained until the autumn of 1822, when, by 
the advice of Mr. Charles Grant, their guar- 
dian, — who directed in this, as in the former 
and subsequent instances, the course of their 
tuition, — they both went to Eton. 

During these years of boyhood, many evi- 
dences had been manifested, in the subject of 
this Memoir, of the character which marked 
his after life; and among these especially, 
may be noticed unshrinking openness, and 
abhorrence of deceit, combined with the most 
sensitive and acute feeling. From earliest 
childhood his mother had impressed upon him 
the lessons of Holy Scripture. She taught him 
his very letters from a large copy of the Bible, 
which was their constant companion, whether 
they were travelling or at home ; and, as soon 
as he was able, accustomed him to learn daily 
some portion of the Sacred Volume by heart. 
She also led him each Sunday to commit to 
memory, as well as to ponder upon the mean- 
ing of, the appointed Collect in the Book of 
Common Prayer ; and also to write a short 
exercise on some text of Scripture which she 
selected. In doing this, she did not fall into 



12 EARLY CHILDHOOD. 

the error of making the Bible a task-book, 
and thus create a weariness of and unholy 
familiarity with its sacred records ; but simply 
endeavoured to store up in his infant mind a 
portion of that heavenly seed which, as the 
event proved, was not without its fruit. 

His deep affection towards the mother who 
thus trained him was most remarkable ; it 
seems to have been then, and ever afterwards, 
the prominent feeling of his heart. When 
quite a child, it is related of him, that, as he 
was one day reading aloud to his mother, 
which he often did for her amusement, he 
came to the following passage : " All that 
mother could do for son, or parent for child, 
she did for me ;" and that no sooner had he 
read these words, than he flung down his book 
on the sofa, and throwing his arms about his 
mother's neck, shed many tears, saying, "My 
dearest mother, this is what you have done for 
me." These were not feelings confined to his 
childish days. They followed him through life, 
curbing many an impetuous impulse of his 
youth, and, in manhood, leading him, at every 
interval of repose from public duties, to turn 
with affection, ever fresh and buoyant, towards 
her whom he delighted to honour. 



CHAPTER II. 



GOES TO ETON. — HIS LETTERS, &C. DURING THE EARLIER 
PART OF HIS STAY THERE. 

The young Chisholm and his brother entered 
upon their career at Eton under peculiarly 
favourable auspices ; for Mr. Ollivant, Fellow 
of Trinity College, Cambridge, (the present 
Vice-Principal of St. David's College, Lam- 
peter,) accompanied them as their private 
tutor. His high principles, sound judgment, 
and distinguished success at the University, 
furnished the strongest possible guarantee of 
his fitness to hold the important trust con- 
ferred upon him ; and no one can regret more 
sincerely than the writer of this Memoir, that 
the benefit thus secured to the young Chis- 
holm, for three years, should not have been 
prolonged yet further. But this season, al- 
though short, embraced a most important 



14 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

period in the history of his early life ; and, 
throughout the whole duration of it, a friend- 
ship, the most intimate and unreserved, ex- 
isted between Mr. Ollivant and his pupils. 
Many circumstances contributed to effect this 
result ; for the two brothers lodged together 
with Mr. Ollivant, in a private house at Eton ; 
and, on account of the still delicate state of 
Alexander's health, he was allowed by Dr. 
Keate to keep a pony ; in consequence of 
which, Mr. Ollivant, who rode out with him, 
w 7 as enabled to be his companion in his hours 
of amusement as well as of study. The fol- 
lowing letter may serve, in some degree, to 
show the footing on which they stood with 
respect to each other ; and, when the fact is 
borne in mind that it was written without dic- 
tation, by a boy of only twelve years of age, 
it must be admitted to bear strong testimony 
to the soundness of the principles thus early 
instilled into him, no less than to his kindly 
feelings and superior abilities. 

« Bath, Dec. 23rd, 1822. 

" My dear Sir, — I received your letter of 
the 20th yesterday, and I have but just found 
time this evening to answer it. Mamma and 



WHILST AT ETON. 15 

all of us were so sorry at your going away so 
soon, that we did not know what to do after 
you had left the house. If you had gone 
earlier we should not have felt it so much, 
but after we had made up our minds to read, 
and had hoped to pass that evening pleasantly 
in your society, your sudden departure was 
very mortifying. I did not expect that you 
would have arrived at Slough so soon as you 
mentioned. I should like very much to have 
been with you when you walked over to Eton, 
accompanied by your torch-bearer. I shall 
often think of you, my dear sir, when I am 
far distant from you, and remember with 
feelings of the warmest gratitude your great 
kindness and care for me when I was ill at 
Eton ; and I shall always endeavour by every 
means in my power to prove both the deep 
sense which I entertain of your goodness and 
affection for us, and my respect and esteem 
for yourself. 

"As to my duty to my dearest mamma, were 
it only for my own happiness and welfare, I 
would strive, by every act of duty, to repay 
those pains and cares, which, from the mo- 
ment of my birth to the present hour, she has 



16 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

suffered for me ; and I would endeavour, by 
any way, however painful, through God's 
assistance, to deserve her affection. I am 
sure I am not among the number of those 
who think such an endeavour foolish and 
unmanly. Nothing, in my opinion, can be 
more honourable or more noble in youth, than 
obedience to parents, and no one can better 
keep God's commandments than by perform- 
ing this duty. 

" We have arranged our time to go on with 
our lessons. We are called about six. I have 
not done many verses. I say my odes of 
Horace to mamma, and do not forget some 
Ovid's Electa. I have learnt ' Jam super 
Oceanum.' I believe Duncan has found out 
that he has not got too little to do, — Jemima 
and he join me in warmest love to you. 
Mamma desires her compliments, and we all 
look forward with pleasure to the happy time 
when we shall meet again. 

" I am, my dear Sir, 

" Yours very affectionately, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 
" -4. Ollivant, Esq. 



WHILST AT ETON. 17 

It seldom happens that much care is taken 
to preserve the papers which a boy of so tender 
an age may write ; for they consist, for the 
most part, of nothing more than what is re- 
quired in the ordinary course of daily instruc- 
tion, and, unless stamped with the mark of pe- 
culiar excellence, possess little interest beyond 
that of the passing hour. The fragments, 
therefore, of the Ohisholm's exercises, al- 
though they evince an accuracy and refinement 
of scholarship above the ordinary rate, are 
yet neither numerous nor diversified enough 
to claim attention. Among some few docu- 
ments, however, of another kind which are 
still in existence, is a short hymn, which he 
wrote when he was nearly thirteen years old. 
It was the spontaneous and unlaboured ex- 
pression of his own mind. Mr. Ollivant found 
it one day in his study, and was so much 
struck with it, that he asked him to give it to 
him, and has retained it in his possession ever 
since. 

Great Creator of Mankind, 

Whom angels all adore ! 
Who canst still the stormy wind, 

And the sea's tumultuous roar ; 

C 



18 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

Bending from thy seat on high, 

Listen to my humble tone, 
A wicked child's repentant cry, 

A humbled sinner's groan. 

Can I dare lift up mine eyes ? 

Can I dare approach thy throne ? 
Shall I from the dust arise ? 

Who shall for my sins atone ? 

Yes, I can approach thy throne ; 

Yes, I may lift up my head ; 
The Lamb shall for my sins atone, 

His blood for all was shed. 

This simple and unpretending composition 
is an index of the Chisholm's mind. It shows 
that at an age when 'careless childhood' 
strays joyously along the scenes that open 
upon its view, — when each object that marks 
those scenes is clothed with freshest beauty, 
— when fancy is most willing to believe their 
reality, and hope most eager to embrace them, 
there was a consciousness in him of the need 
in which he stood of further and more endur- 
ing help than any which they could render. 
It was no feigned or artificial sentiment which 
he here assumed, for he was truth itself. 
Neither was it any sullen or reserved temper 
which forced his thoughts thus back on his 



WHILST AT ETON. 19 

own mind, and led him to think of penitence 
and mourning, whilst bands of playmates were 
sporting around him, — for who, that knew 
him at that age does not remember the bright 
and happy c sunshine ' of his ' breast,' his 
laughing wit, his reckless courage, his quick 
and stirring energy? And yet he saw his 
weaknesses, his dangers, his help ; and, in 
accents which he never thought would be 
seen or noticed by mortal eye, the guileless 
boy poured out the deep workings of his heart 
before God. 

This is not a solitary evidence of the 
earnest, fervent, devotion which then kindled 
within him. There is a letter written by him, 
whilst he was at Eton, to his mother, on the 
eve of his thirteenth birth-day, which shows, 
in the most remarkable degree, the fervour of 
his devotional feelings, and the growing ripe- 
ness of his judgment. 

"My dearest Mamma, — I am very sorry 
that I should have so long delayed answering 
your kind letter of the 7th ult. I forgot to 
look at that chapter in Leviticus which you 
desired me. I have another to learn for Mr. 
c 2 



20 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

Ollivant, which I have begun to learn, and, as 
soon as I have finished it, I will learn yours 
also. It is true, my dearest mamma, that 
many people, as well in this place as every 
where else, neglect to keep the Sabbath and 
to reverence the sanctuary of the Lord. 
There are a great many opportunities for vice 
to exercise her malicious spleen upon the 
meek and humble followers of virtue's path, 
particularly where I now am. And, although 
I have such an excellent tutor, it is impossible 
for me to avoid very frequently seeing and 
hearing many bad practices and wicked words. 
I do watch and pray, my dearest mamma, 
that God will be pleased to lend his aid, both 
to my brother and myself, to keep us from 
the commission of those crimes which too 
many unhappy boys are led to commit, who 
will live to repent them in their old age. I 
cannot be too thankful to God, for giving me 
such a parent as you, and such advantages as 
I have got : I will endeavour to prove my 
gratitude to Him, and to you, by trying to do 
my duty, to please you, and to gain the 
approbation of my tutor. I pray to that 
Being night and morning to bless us all ;— to 



WHILST AT ETON. 21 

bless my tutor, — more especially to pour his 
choicest blessings upon your head, my dearest 
mamma ; and to guard me, not only from evil 
actions, but also from evil thoughts, for from 
the thoughts proceed the actions, and c out of 
the heart are the issues' of good and evil. 
I was led by my evil thoughts, the other day, 
to commit, in a small degree, a sin ; but 
immediately, when I recollected myself, I fell 
down upon my knees to God, and asked his 
forgiveness. I was tempted to use a bad 
word, but nobody else, except myself, heard it. 
As soon as I came home I confessed it to my 
tutor, who was very much delighted at my 
thus making him my friend. But yet I can 
never be so free to him as I am to you. I 
will wait till we meet again, if it please God, 
when I can more freely open my mind to you. 
To-morrow, my dearest mamma, is my birth- 
day. It has pleased God to spare me thus 
long. To-morrow's sun will dawn upon my 
thirteenth year. Oh that I am a year wiser, 
a year better ! and a year nearer perfection ! 
a year more considerate concerning my future 
welfare ! I will pray to God to make me so, 
to increase my knowledge as my life increases. 



22 HIS LETTERS, &C, 

I will ask Him to forgive me my sins, to lend 
me His grace, that I may fear more, and at- 
tend to my duty to Him, that I may love and 
be more grateful to you, and do my duty more 
to all men. This is the part which all Chris- 
tians ought to act, and which I hope to act 
in future. Oh ! my dearest mamma ! may 
the Almighty bless and prosper you; may 
He grant you to live long and happily, to see 
many of my birthdays, and to view me grown 
up to man's estate, in the fear of God, in 
filial affection, and in charitable feelings to 
my fellow-creatures, as both you and my tutor 
have taught me. I will try to watch over 
my youngest brother. The next time you 
write, pray be so kind as write to Duncan. 
I will try, if I have time, to insert my other 
poem upon ' Esprit de Millefleur," which you 
recollect was made extempore. Duncan joins 
me in love to you, and I remain, my dearest 
mamma, 

" Your affectionate son, 
" A. W. Chisholm." 

" P.S. We thank you for the book. We 
have learnt the Litany. Adieu." 



WHILST AT ETON. 2o 

It will be observed, in the above letter, 
that the young Ohisholm speaks, in the most 
touching and simple terms, of his having 
been betrayed into the sin of uttering an 
improper word, and, that, when upon his 
bended knees he had implored the pardon of 
God, he sought still further relief from the 
sorrow which he felt, by confessing what he 
had done to his instructor and guide. It is 
an incident which bears favourable testimony 
to both parties; for what boy would have 
thought of drawing nigh to his tutor, in such 
a way and for such a cause, had he not first 
been taught the importance of watching and 
controlling the very smallest and earliest ap- 
proaches to sin, and felt assured that in his 
tutor he would find a friend ? 

There is one other record of his character 
which may fitly be quoted in this place, as 
exhibiting the same jealousy of himself, the 
same watchfulness against temptation, the 
same resolution to detect and amend what- 
soever infirmity oppressed him. It occurs in 
an extract from a letter to his mother, which 
was communicated by her to Mr. Ollivant. 
There is no date attached to the extract, 



24 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

which is in the possession of Mr. Ollivant, 
but, from a loose memorandum lately found 
by him, which he had noted down in 1824, 
and which relates to some communication 
made to him by the young Ohisholm, com- 
plaining of the evil of his thoughts, the letter 
was most probably written in that year, with 
reference to that subject. 

" I give the following extract of a letter I 
had from my darling Alexander, a few days 
ago. After telling me he had been guilty of 
what was wrong, he goes on to say, 'But 
when the evening came, I told my dear friend 
as well as honoured tutor Mr. Ollivant, and 
he gave me some little advice. I prayed to 
God more fervently when I went to bed. But 
I always find, my dearest mamma, that when- 
ever I do not pray to God for aid, and endea- 
vour to conquer my vices by strength not my 
own, I inevitably fall into a snare. This was 
the case with me then. I trusted too much 
to my own might. But I have confessed my 
sin to God, with whom there is abundance 
of pardon. I think I may say that God has 
given me somewhat more of his Holy Spirit 



WHILST AT ETON. 25 

lately, since I prayed to Him. And if He 
continues to do so, which I hope and trust 
He will, I shall become a vessel holy to the 
Lord, and, as far as mortal can be^ a taber- 
nacle worthy the habitation of my God. 
I like confessing my sins to any earthly 
friend, after I have unbosomed myself to my 
God ; that is, after I have confessed myself 
guilty to Him. But to express them to you 
gives me inexpressible joy P " 

That a boy of thirteen years of age should 
entertain such thoughts and express them in 
such language, is the strongest possible evi- 
dence of the fidelity and care of those who 
sought to bring him " up in the nurture and 
admonition of the Lord 1 !" A remarkable 
confirmation of this is found in the following 
letter written by his mother to Mr. Olli- 
vant, in the autumn of 1823. She was then 
staying at Brighton with her family, but it 
was before the writer of this Memoir had 
come to Brighton, or been made acquainted 
with her son. She adds a few lines to a letter 
written by her son ; and, after having ex- 
pressed her satisfaction at the good conduct 

1 Ephes. vi. 4. 



26 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

of both the brothers during the holidays, she 
goes on to say, 

" I have told Alexander that, with a very 
few exceptions, your report of him was highly 
gratifying to me. We then talked over the 
faults you pointed out; and he has pro- 
mised (I am sure with the utmost sincerity) 
to use every endeavour to correct them before 
you meet again. If your thoughts should 
ever wander to Brighton, you may picture us 
regretting your absence almost as often as we 
meet at table, or set out for a walk, and al- 
ways when the duties of family prayer bring 
us together at the commencement and at 
the close of each day. Alexander reads the 
prayers with great propriety. 

" The boys wish to know if there is any 
particular day of the week on which you 
would wish them to send their verses. I fear 
you will receive this on Sunday ; if you tell 
me that it is so, we shall endeavour to arrange 
better next time. Pray what day does Eton 
meet again ? 

" I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
" E. Ramsay." 



WHILST AT ETON. 27 

In this brief notice, there is enough to 
show the anxiety and carefulness with which 
the young Chisholm was watched over in the 
years of boyhood ; and, if the seed ever bears 
fruit after its kind, let the harvest of his riper 
years bear witness to the seed sown in this 
spring-time of his life. 



CHAPTER III. 



AT ETON. HIS LETTERS, &C. DURING THE LATTER PART OF 

HIS STAY THERE. 

In the autumn of 1824, whilst the Chisholm 
was yet only in his fifteenth year, two circum- 
stances occurred which brought out in a very 
remarkable degree the singular generosity and 
truthfulness of his character, and also the 
strength and solidity of his views upon a 
subject, respecting which, few, probably, who 
did not know him, would have thought him 
competent to hold or to express an opinion. 
And, indeed, without a reference to some of 
the provisions of the Scottish law, it may seem 
somewhat extraordinary that his opinion 
should have been asked for at all. It may 
be right, therefore, to state, by way of expla- 



HIS LETTERS, &C 29 

nation, that, according to the Scottish law, 
two distinct periods of life, previous to that 
of majority, are recognized, namely, first, 
Pupillarity, or pupilage, which continues until 
the age of fourteen ; and secondly, Minority r 
which continues until the age of twenty-one. 
A distinction is likewise admitted, unknown 
to the English law, between the two kinds of 
guardianship respectively incident to these 
states ; the guardian of a pupil being termed 
his tutor, and the guardian of a minor (pro- 
perly so called) being termed his curator. 

During the period of pupilage, that is, until 
the age of fourteen, the child is subject, both 
as to his person and his estate, to the autho- 
rity of his tutors, and, as an infant under 
the English law, is incapable of doing any 
legal act. After that period, the office of 
tutor expires, and that of curator begins, and 
continues until the minor reaches the age of 
twenty-one. Curators, however, may, equally 
with tutors, be appointed by the father's tes- 
tament ; and, of course, the same persons may 
fill both offices. 

A minor has many rights which a pupil 
has not ; and the powers of the curator are 



30 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

proportionately less than those of the tutor. 
A pupil, for instance, cannot subscribe any 
legal instrument ; for subscription imports 
consent, of which a pupil is presumed in- 
capable : but, after he has become a minor, 
it is properly himself who acts ; the curator 
does nothing more than concur with him, or 
consent to his deeds ; and, consequently, a 
deed signed by the curator only, without the 
minor, is as truly void as one subscribed by 
the minor only, without the curator. The 
minor, in fact, acts for himself ; and his cu- 
rator's concurrence is simply the protection 
which the law casts around his inexperience. 

These provisions of the Scottish law will at 
once explain the reason why, on the attain- 
ment of his minority, that is, in his fifteenth 
year, the Ohisholm should have been called 
upon to exercise his judgment upon two sub- 
jects which were then proposed to his consi- 
deration by his curators or guardians. The 
one was connected with his father's debts, 
which were of considerable amount ; and the 
other, the remission of some rents, which 
his tenantry in the Highlands had petitioned 
him to make. His curators were naturally 






WHILST AT ETON. 31 

desirous that he should give his judgment, as 
a minor, upon these points, as the law per- 
mitted him to do, in as free and unbiassed a 
manner as possible ; both from a wish to avoid 
even the semblance of exercising an undue 
influence over him, and because the law of 
Scotland, as a further protection to the minor, 
permits him to dispute, within four years after 
he has attained his majority, any deed which 
he can show to have been rashly or incon- 
siderately granted during his minority. 

The first of these points the young Chis- 
holm answered at once, by taking upon him 
at the first opportunity, after his passing 
pupillarity, all the various debts and engage- 
ments of his father. The writer is sorry that 
he cannot find a copy of the communication 
which conveyed this answer ; but ample tes- 
timony is borne by his guardians to the excel- 
lent spirit in which it was made. He was, 
of course, not permitted to come to such a 
decision, without having the matter fully laid 
before him, in itself, and in its consequences. 
Mr. Mackenzie of Muirton, who was agent, 
as well as guardian, clearly showed to him, 
that, as heir of entail, he was not bound to 
5 



32 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

take upon himself his father's debts; and, that, 
by doing so, he would be obliged to restrict 
himself for many years after he came of age. 
But he answered, firmly, yet respectfully, that 
he was willing to abide the consequences, and 
requested Mr. Mackenzie to call in all the 
debts, and pay them off, with five per cent, 
interest, as speedily as possible. And this 
was done. 

The second point, which related to the pe- 
tition of some of his Highland tenantry for 
reduction of their rents, was likewise referred 
to the young Chief, for his own free and un- 
biassed decision ; and, without counsel or 
advice from any earthly guide, he returned, 
whilst he was at Eton, the following answer 
to his mother upon the subject : — 

"Eton, ] 2th Oct. 1824. 

" My dearest Mamma, — May it please 
the Almighty Disposer of good to send down 
his choicest blessings of peace and comfort 
upon your head ! I am sure it is my prayer 
night and day that such should be his will ; 
and the older I grow, and the more experi- 
ence I have in the world, the more I see the 



WHILE AT ETON. 33 

excellence of your precepts, and the good 
which attends the following of them, and con- 
sequently the more I feel both the duty and 
the reasonableness of this prayer. Though 
it is indeed the prayer of a sinner, yet I feel 
confident it will find acceptance with Him 
who cannot bear to look upon evil, if it is 
asked through the merits of His Son. I am 
sure (and I do not speak this with any feeling 
of pride or contempt for others, but rather 
with thankfulness for such a parent), that 
there are few boys at this school (though 
many in the same situation with myself) who 
have been so well taught, and are so fre- 
quently and kindly reminded where to seek 
for aid in every difficulty, as we have both of 
us been. I am sure we ought to be thankful 
to God ; and we will endeavour in the best way 
to evince our gratitude to you by striving, 
through his assistance, to fulfil our duty in 
our several stations. But I ought to be par- 
ticularly thankful ; for, although the having 
an estate and property, however small it may 
be in general, as you have often told me, 
and as my dear tutor always gives me *to 
understand, brings along with its pleasures a 



34 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

great deal of trouble and anxiety, on account 
of the great responsibility which it entails ; 
yet it is by no means a thing not to be de- 
sired. I think, as in a case like this, it is a 
great pleasure and privilege to consider your- 
selves as the channel through which the 
streams of Almighty goodness so frequently 
flow to mankind. It is also the peculiar pri- 
vilege of the Christian to know that, even in 
matters of comparatively little importance, 
the eye of his God watches over him, and 
observes his motions, and that He is always 
willing, if he prays to Him, to guide his steps. 
I have been reading a passage which I think 
I may say gave me comfort on that score ; 
it was in the 5th chapter of the 1st Epistle 
of St. John, and the 14th or 15th verses, 
where we are told that we may have such 
confidence in God, that whatsoever we ask 
we may believe that we shall receive it. I 
very much doubt whether we always feel in- 
clined to place such confidence in Him. But 
however, for once at least, when I had found 
an opportunity, I retired, and read these 
verses, and prayed to God for encourage- 
ment. I began to write my letter ; and I will 



WHILE AT ETON. 35 

now endeavour to tell you what were my 
thoughts upon reading the petition a third 
time. My tutor showed me once a passage 
in Virgil, where he introduces Anchises, in a 
conversation with JEneas in the shades below, 
urging that, perhaps, other nations might be 
able to surpass Rome in the fine arts, and in 
matters of elegance and taste ; but that it 
ought to be his business, after having con- 
quered nations, to pity those who had been 
overcome, while it brought down the proud \ 
We should endeavour, my dearest mamma, 
whatever may be our destination, not to be 
outdone in our sentiments by the heathen 
Virgil, nor in munificence and liberality by 
the other proprietors who are mentioned 
in the petition. I should think that it would 
be the best way to grant the petitioners a 
remission of all the arrears of their rent, and 

1 The following is the passage referred to : 

Excudent alii spirantia mollius sera ? 
Credo equidem : vivos ducent de marmore vultus. 
Orabunt causas melius ; coelique meatus 
Describent radio, et surgentia sidera dicent : 
Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento ; 
Hse tibi erunt artes ; pacisque imponere morem, 
Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos. 

JEneid. vi. 847-854. 
D 2 



36 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

to assist them, if possible, to resume the 
tenantcy of Renow and Clachan. I think 
the latter would be well; not only out of 
charity, but because they seem, according to 
their own account, relations ; and since it was 
agreeable to chiefs for some time past to take 
notice of and support them. 

" You know, my own mamma, that so 
young as I am, I am very little aware of what 
ought to be done with regard to the estate, 
but yet I think these good reasons for sup- 
porting them. But, above all, since you have 
so often told me of the quantity of smugglers 
which there are in that part of the country, 
it is right to encourage the industrious, parti- 
cularly such people as these, who seem to be 
so honourable, and whose present distress is 
owing to their anxiety to do justice, and to 
pay their rents well. It is also right, I should 
think, to show favour to such as feel that at- 
tachment to the ' land of their forefathers 7 
which is eminently characteristic of the gene- 
rous mountaineer, and so peculiarly honour- 
able to the Scottish nation. I know, as you 
are well aware, so little about my own affairs, 
that I am not competent to give my opinion, 



WHILE AT ETON. 37 

or judge of what is right ; but I should like 
them to receive as much assistance as possible, 
in whatever way my guardians and you think 
fit. I cannot but feel myself highly honoured 
in being referred to by such men. These are 
my own sentiments, my own dear mamma, and 
I should be obliged to you if you would send 
me an answer as soon as possible, telling me 
what you think of them, and what you should 
think fit to be done, either in addition to, or 
in alteration of, what I have said. 

" I remain, my dearest mamma, 
" Your affectionate son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

Any comment must be superfluous upon 
such a letter as this. Humility, wisdom, ge- 
nerosity, truth, and godliness, are alike im- 
pressed upon it ; and if this were the only 
memorial of the departed Chief, it would 
make his name precious. 

Another letter has been preserved among 
those written at this period of his life ; and, 
although it relates not to topics of so solemn 
and important a character as those which have 
been before noticed, it may not be deemed 



38 HIS LETTERS, &C 

unworthy of interest, as exhibiting the un- 
reserved friendship which subsisted between 
Mr. Ollivant and himself, and the playful and 
kindly, yet respectful, spirit which marked the 
expression of it. It was written when he 
was at home for the holidays, in the year 
1825 ; and, after having described an illness 
by which his brother Duncan had for some 
days been confined to the house, he proceeds : 

" I am sure I entirely concur with the sen- 
timents in your last letter, and I think I do 
with most of your opinions ; and I shall en- 
deavour to comply, to the best of my power, 
with your instructions. I am sure I still 
continue to feel, as I told you I felt at Eton, 
the most lively gratitude to you as being the 
instrument in the hand of a superior power 
of doing me a great deal of good, during the 
period I have been under your care at Eton, 
and of impressing more strongly on my mind 
those great principles which my dearest 
mamma at so early an age endeavoured to 
instil into it. 

" I have given your message to Duncan, 
Rob, and Caesar. I have not yet seen Obe- 



WHILE AT ETON. 39 

ron 1 , Sir, but I will be sure to give him the 
message. They three send back their love to 
you. Rob read all your letter through, and 
then my answer down unto c it." That was 
all the length I had come to when I went to 
give him your message. I had not time to 
read your letter yesterday. As soon as ever 
Eob had read one page he put his nose to the 
edge, and I turned over the leaf for him. He 
begs me to enclose a lock of his hair by way 
of remembrance, which I hope you will get 
safe. I could not get any of Caesar's, or else 
he would have wished me to send one also. 
I will write to you again soon. I have not 
forgotten the repetition. Believe me, 
" My dear tutor, 

" Your dutiful pupil, 
" A. W. Chisholm." 

" P.S. You forgot Jack, but he has not 
forgotten you. On second thoughts, I re- 
turned, and got some of Caesar's hair; he 
appeared quite happy at the thought of send- 
ing to you this small token of his love. Rob 

1 Rob Roy, Caesar, and Oberon, were the names of three 
favourite ponies. 



40 HIS LETTERS, &C 

was quite glad too. When I first opened the 
letter in the stable, Rob very politely stood 
back, as he knew it would not be well-bred to 
read a person's letter without his leave. Jack 
begs to send some hair ; Caesar's is white, in 
coloured paper. Duncan would have sent 
some, but he says he was afraid of conveying 
the jaundice to Cambridge, and infecting your 
studies. ^ 

The only other document which the writer 
has been able to find, which throws light upon 
this period of the Chisholm's boyish days, is a 
paragraph in the Inverness Courier, which he 
here inserts, because he has reason to know 
that the circumstance which it relates was 
his own spontaneous act. 

" Chisholm of Chisholm. — We have 
learned, with much pleasure, that young 
Chisholm of Chisholm has lately sent twenty 
guineas to William Fraser, Esq. of Culbockie, 
to be distributed among the poor of Strath- 
glass. We understand also that he gave 
twenty-five pounds last year for the same 
purpose ; and that both these donations were 



WHILE AT ETON. 41 

sums placed at his disposal by his guardians, 
as prizes on account of his exertions at school. 
Many of our readers must recollect, that on 
attaining minority 1 , this youth most honour- 
ably renounced that privilege of an heir of 
entail which frees him from liability for the 
debts of his predecessor. These early and 
repeated instances of liberality testify at once 
the goodness of the young Chiefs disposition, 
the excellence of his heart, and his attachment 
to his people and the Highlands, and, we 
think, fully justify the most confident expec- 
tations, that he will in after life continue to 
display those qualities which have graced his 
youth, and which, we trust, will long adorn 
the important station in society which he is 
hereafter to occupy." 

At the end of the year 1825, Mr. Ollivant 
resigned his charge ; and upon their return 
to Eton in the year following, the Chisholm 
and his brother were placed under the tuition 
and in the house of the Reverend Edward 
Coleridge. The two qualities which presented 
themselves most prominently to Mr. Cole- 
1 See pp. 29—31. 



42 HIS LETTERS, &C. 

ridge^s attention, on his first acquaintance 
with Alexander, were his great piety, and his 
faculty of passing from the most sportive to 
the most serious mood with grace and effect. 
The former Mr. Coleridge justly attributes to 
the great care which had been taken with his 
early education by those who preceded him ; 
and, as a remarkable proof of this, he observes, 
in a letter to the writer of this Memoir, that, 
when Alexander was first entrusted to his 
charge, he was able to repeat one hundred 
and fifty-eight chapters of the Bible by heart. 
The preceding pages will have already shown 
the pains which had been taken to store 
his mind with Scriptural knowledge; and 
the richness and copiousness of Scriptural 
language which, in after years, characterized 
the prayers daily offered up by him amid his 
household, may reasonably be ascribed to the 
same cause. 

Mr. Coleridge speaks also of the earnest- 
ness and regularity with which, to his know- 
ledge, the young Chisholm pursued his private 
devotions, and the courage with which he 
adhered to them, in despite of the taunts 
and scoffs which oftentimes tempt boys to be 



WHILE AT ETON. 43 

ashamed of observing such duties. The sim- 
plicity and gentleness of his nature, his daring 
courage, his quick sense of honour, sustained 
and strengthened by his sense of duty, his 
abstinence from idle and profane language, 
and from ungentlemanlike and immoral con- 
duct — these were also his characteristics, 
which Mr. Coleridge affectionately remem- 
bers, and to the reality of which he bears 
sincere and ready testimony. 

To say that the Ohisholm felt deeply the 
obligation which he owed to the kind and 
watchful care of Mr. Coleridge, — that he 
sincerely and gratefully acknowledged this, 
and rejoiced to avail himself of every oppor- 
tunity, presented to him in after days, of re- 
newing and strengthening the bonds of friend- 
ship then formed, — is but to add another link 
to that chain of testimony which freely and 
gratefully is borne by so many of the fore- 
most of Britain's sons, in honour of that ex- 
cellent preceptor. 



CHAPTER IV. 



GOES TO BRIGHTON, AND THENCE TO CAMBRIDGE. 

The writer of the present Memoir gladly 
adverts to the testimony, which, as the last 
chapter will have shown, he has received from 
Mr. Coleridge, because it exactly accords 
with his own recollections of the Ohisholm. 
He had ample opportunities of testing and 
verifying the accuracy of this report ; for, on 
leaving Eton in the beginning of 1828, the 
Ohisholm became his pupil, and continued 
with him until he went to Trinity College, 
Cambridge, in the following October. At an 
age, therefore, when the results of whatsoever 
process had been pursued in earlier years 
became in a great degree developed, and its 
influence, whether for evil or for good, re- 



GOES TO BRIGHTON, &C. 45 

ceived fresh impulse from the ardour and 
energy of rising manhood, it was no difficult 
or doubtful matter to determine what had 
been the previous tenor of his earlier life. 
All that might be expected to be found in 
him, from a perusal of the preceding pages, 
was fully realized. Deep piety, ingenuous- 
ness, strong intellect, ardent affection, me- 
mory richly stored, playful imagination, these 
were among the gifts and graces richly be- 
stowed upon him. The intimate knowledge 
of Scripture, already pointed out by Mr. Cole- 
ridge, and the facility of expressing himself, 
either by word or writing, in the loftiest 
language of Inspiration, were among the fore- 
most and earliest circumstances noticed also 
by the writer of this Memoir. Nor was it 
with these treasures alone that the Chisholm's 
memory was stored. He could repeat, with 
equal facility, passage after passage from 
Milton or Shakspeare ; and this he did, not 
with the mechanical readiness of an auto- 
maton, but with the zeal and ardour of one 
who loved to contemplate scenes, the descrip- 
tion of which he could thus faithfully recite. 
With all this, was combined a modesty so 



46 GOES TO BRIGHTON, 

great, that, had it not been for the line of 
thought and reading which drew forth these 
stores of his well-practised memory, the exist-* 
ence of them would probably never have been 
ascertained. Incidents had not been want- 
ing, in his former life, as these pages will 
have shown, upon which he might have well 
been tempted to dilate, had he been at all 
boastful or vain-glorious ; but so little did he 
seem to regard any thing which he might 
have said or done, in a spirit of self-com- 
placency, that, with all his openness and 
cheerfulness of spirit, and with every oppor- 
tunity given to him to indulge it, the writer 
of this Memoir never knew, until after the 
departure of the Ohisholm from his roof, that 
any matters so grave and important as those 
already noticed in these pages, had ever been 
submitted to him for his consideration, or 
that he had expressed so clear, and wise, and 
faithful a judgment respecting them. 

His native temperament was peculiarly sen- 
sitive and delicate ; too much so, perhaps, for 
what is ordinarily accounted happiness by the 
world. But present tranquillity is not the 
object for which man is allowed to have his 



AND THENCE TO CAMBRIDGE. 47 

being in this life ; and if the keen perception 
of whatsoever is offensive in the sight of God 
or man inflict, upon those who experience it. 
distress more acute and harassing than can 
be imagined by others whose sympathies are 
more dull, or whose consciences are more 
torpid, the very pain which is felt does but 
stimulate the desire to "flee away and be at 
rest," and lead them to cling more closely 
and faithfully to the hope which is set before 
them. To the Ohisholm, indeed, the sensi- 
tiveness here spoken of may have been the 
source of more than ordinary disquietude, for 
it led him to watch more jealously the workings 
of his own mind than the actions of others. 
He possessed an exuberance of animal spirits 
which would hurry him, not unfrequently, to 
the committal of some act, which the world 
might call thoughtless, or the utterance of 
some word, which the world might call 
foolish, and by such titles gloss over the real 
cause of uneasiness or shame, but which his 
own exquisite sense of the requirements of 
Christian holiness was the first to see ought 
not to have been said or done. It has already 
been noticed by Mr. Coleridge with what 



48 GOES TO BRIGHTON, 

quickness and facility he could pass from a 
serious to a sportive mood ; and the writer of 
this Memoir, while he can bear ample testi- 
mony to the same fact, remembers also how 
that sportiveness was, in its turn, followed 
by a silence and thoughtfulness so deep, that 
he could not refrain sometimes from inquiring 
the cause. In the friendly and unreserved 
conferences to which such inquiries led, he 
witnessed the solemn awe with which that 
young and ardent mind was employed in sit- 
ting in judgment upon itself, the scrupulous 
exactness with which it strove to weigh in 
the balance of the sanctuary its own frail 
acts, and the trembling dread with which it 
shrank from the bare thought of provoking 
the Lord God to anger. 

The writer has touched upon this peculiar 
feature in the character of his departed friend, 
because he believes that to many, who knew 
him not so intimately as himself, it may serve 
to explain that which might have appeared 
inconsistent in him. He would gladly detail, 
in this place, more of his impressions of one 
whom he never ceased to love, did he not 
remember that the object proposed to him is 



AND THENCE TO CAMBRIDGE. 49 

not to record his own opinion of the Chis- 
holm's character, but to give to his friends, 
and to the world, the evidences of it which 
the Ohisholm himself has left. Albeit, there- 
fore, that his recollection of him as a pupil, 
companion, friend, is fresh as ever, and fur- 
nishes one of the many evidences which he 
thankfully acknowledges to have received, 
of God's mercy sweetening the toil which He 
imposes, he lays these associations for a time 
aside, that he may trace out, as faithfully as 
he can, the sequel of the Chisholm's brief 
life. 

In Michaelmas Term, 1828, he left Brighton 
and entered as a Fellow Commoner of Trinity 
College, Cambridge, under the tuition of the 
Reverend George Peacock, now Dean of Ely. 
The Reverend Thomas Thorp, now Archdea- 
con of Bristol, was also his private tutor ; and 
the best evidence of his having duly profited 
by the valuable assistance thus rendered to 
him, is the fact of his name appearing in 
the First Class at the College Examination 
which took place after the division of the 
Easter Term next following. This distinc- 
tion, it is well known, is confined to eminent 

E 



50 GOES TO BRIGHTON, 

students. At the examination in 1830, he 
was not present, in consequence of ill-health ; 
and, before the expiration of his third year of 
residence, when those who had gratefully re- 
ceived tidings of his first success, might have 
looked forward to the close of his academical 
career with the hope of seeing it marked by 
fresh distinction, he had left the University. 

It cannot and ought not to be denied, 
that this was a grievous disappointment to 
his best friends. It was a disappointment 
aggravated too by the consciousness that he 
had not always been proof against the temp- 
tations to idleness which beset the path of the 
young; and that 5 amid the gay society of 
those who were quick to betray him into error, 
but powerless to save him from its results, he 
did violence to many a better feeling and prin- 
ciple of his nature, and laid up materials for 
mournful and humiliating recollection, upon 
which none could pass severer judgment than 
himself. It should, however, be borne in 
mind, that his pursuits, at this period of his 
life, were often interrupted by ill-health ; and 
it is probable, therefore, that finding himself 
only gathering up, at various intervals, some 



AND THENCE TO CAMBRIDGE. 51 

few fragments of that course of reading which 
was proposed to him, and which, even if con- 
tinuously sustained, would not have been more 
than enough to have ensured to him the dis- 
tinction to which he aspired, he might have 
thought it hopeless to carry on the struggle ; 
and thus giving way, in one instance, to the 
love of ease, he might have felt, too late, that 
other enemies to his soul's peace had followed 
in the train of indolence, and found an easier 
access to him through the avenue which had 
thus been opened. But, God be praised ! the 
assailants did not fix their stronghold within 
him, — there was an unseen Power, mightier 
than his own or theirs, yet present with him, 
to beat back and crush the threatened danger ; 
and, in the strength of this Power, was he en- 
abled in the end to be "more than conqueror." 
The writer deeply regrets, that, with the 
exception of a few brief letters which passed 
between them, he had no opportunity of keep- 
ing up his intimacy with the Ohisholm at this 
period ; but he believes he is fully borne out 
by the fact, when he states, that, although ft 
was a period presenting some scenes of pain- 
ful contrast to those which had marked his 
e 2 



52 GOES TO BRIGHTON, 

earlier years, the seed sown in those years 
was in itself yet fresh and vigorous ; that the 
blade, which had already sprung up, howsoever 
shaken by the gusts of unruly passion, or 
bent beneath the burden of this world's temp- 
tation, was yet not broken off from the root ; 
that, howsoever hidden from the eye of sense 
the proofs of its growth might be, that 
process was nevertheless going on, surely, 
though not less secretly, than is the growth of 
the seed which the husbandman casts into the 
earth, — and that " the ear, and after that the 
full corn in the ear 1 " ripening for the sickle, 
were even then to be hoped for. 

One evidence of the reasonableness of this 
hope, the writer finds in the continuance of that 
deep and unfeigned reverence and affection 
for his mother which had ever characterized 
the young Chisholm. It never changed or 
wavered. Another evidence also he finds in 
the attachment felt towards him by those to 
whose care he was consigned at the Univer- 
sity. The Dean of Ely speaks of him in 
terms of unfeigned respect. In a letter to 

1 Mark iv. 26—29. 



AND THENCE TO CAMBRIDGE. 53 

the writer of this Memoir, he says that he 
has rarely had under his care a pupil to whom 
he felt so much attached, or of whose capa- 
city he entertained a higher opinion. He 
describes him, and very justly, at the time of 
his first acquaintance with him, as ' a youth 
of a singularly gentlemanlike appearance : his 
countenance pale and contemplative : his eye, 
when not lighted up by a strong emotion, 
expressive of great softness and gentleness of 
character ; and his manners, at least in his 
intercourse with his seniors, remarkably mo- 
dest and pleasing. A little experience (the 
Dean adds) of his performance in the lecture- 
room satisfied him that his capacity was of 
no ordinary kind : he was remarkable for the 
rapidity with which he acquired knowledge, 
and for the clearness and precision with which 
he expressed himself.' Archdeacon Thorp, — 
to whom, as his companion on a tour through 
Normandy in the long vacation of 1829, and 
at other times, there were given more op- 
portunities of knowing and appreciating his 
character, — bears yet more direct and marked 
testimony to the many endearing qualities 
which distinguished it. In truth, few persons 



54 GOES TO CAMBRIDGE. 

had more nearly watched and studied the 
Chisholm's character, temper, and capacity, 
or used more pains to direct them in a course 
of honourable exertion than Mr. Thorp ; and 
the record of the friendship of such a man, 
under such circumstances acquired and re- 
tained, is the loftiest commendation which 
can be given of him who was the object of it. 
Another acknowledgment to the like effect 
the writer has received from Mr. Rothman, 
Fellow of Trinity College, and now Registrar 
of the University of London, who passed the 
long vacation of 1830 with the Ohisholm in 
Wales. He speaks not only in terms of sin- 
cere regard for his character as a companion 
and friend, but describes also the great apti- 
tude which he showed for the study of mathe- 
matics, and of natural science in general. In 
the department of botany, especially, Mr. 
Rothman states that he showed remarkable 
intelligence, and feels convinced that he would 
have been a first-rate botanist, if he had only 
enjoyed the leisure for prosecuting his re- 
searches in this branch of science. 



CHAPTER V. 



ATTAINS HIS MAJORITY, AND RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 
NOTICE OF THE CLAN. — HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS AND 
CONDUCT. 

The course of our brief narrative has brought 
us to that period of the Chisholm's life, in 
which, having attained the age of twenty-one, 
he returned to take up his abode in Scotland, 
and discharge the duties imposed upon him 
by the possession of his patrimonial inherit- 
ance. It is an estate situated in the romantic 
district of Strathglass, in the county of Inver- 
ness, and retains the same name of Erchless 
or Erchles, by which, as will have been seen 
in the first chapter, it was in very early times 
designated. The castle, as it now stands, is 
but the remnant of a much larger structure ; 
a part of it having been destroyed in the 



56 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 

Rebellion of 1715, and, again, another part 
in that of 1745. 

Roderick Ohisholm, Chief of the Clan in 
1715, was an adherent of the Pretender, and 
his lands were in consequence forfeited to the 
Crown, and sold into the hands of others ; but, 
pardon having been granted, in the twelfth 
year of George the First, to him and several 
others who had been concerned in the rebellion, 
the estates were re-sold, and, passing through 
the hands of various possessors, reverted at 
length, in the year 1774, to Alexander, eldest 
son of the attainted Roderick 1 , and grand- 

1 Whilst these sheets were passing through the press, 
the writer was favoured with a notice of the Clan Chis- 
holm, which had been drawn up about twelve years ago 
by the late Mr. John Anderson, writer to the Signet in 
Edinburgh, and author of the History of the Clan Fraser, 
&c. and originally published as one of a series of articles 
on the Highland Clans which appeared in the Inverness 
Courier. The writer avails himself of this information 
the more thankfully, because he has found unexpectedly 
that his namesake, although no relative, was formerly his 
schoolfellow, and he is glad to record the affectionate re- 
membrance which he still cherishes of one of the earliest 
companions of his boyish days. 

The passage which occurs in the article in question, and 
which details the train of circumstances mentioned above, 
is here subjoined : — 

" On the 21st of July, 1724, the Commissioners for the 



ATTAINS HIS MAJORITY. 57 

father of the subject of this Memoir, by his 
second marriage with Margaret Mackenzie of 
Allangrange. 

sale of forfeited estates, sold to James Bailie, Esq., W. S., 
the whole lands which belonged to Roderick Chisolm, of 
Comer, comprising the lands of Erchless, Breakachy, In- 
nerchannick, Comer, Glencannick, and many others. By 
a highly ornamented pardon (with a sight of which the 
author has been favoured), under the Privy Seal, George 
the First forgives the crimes of treason and levying war 
committed by the folio whig gentlemen, in these words : 
' Pardonamus, Remittimus, Relaxamus pfat: — Roberto 
Stuart de Appin ; Alexandro Macdonald de Glenco ; Jo- 
hanni Grant dmo Anglice Laird de Glenmoriston ; Johanni 
Mackinnon dmo Anglice Laird de Mackinnon ; Roderick 
M'Kenzie de Fairburn ; Alexandro M'Kenzie de Dachma- 
luack ; Roderic Chisolm de Strathglass ; Georgio M'Kenzie 
de Ballamathie ; Roberto Campbell als M'Gregor coiter 
vocat: Roberto Roy ; Johanni Macdougal de Lome, et 
Jacobo Ogilvie coiter vocat: Domin. Ogilvie, et eorum 
cuill, &c.' Dated at Westminster 4 th January, 12 th year 
of the king's reign. 

"George M'Kenzieof Allangrange (a confidential friend), 
acquired the above lands bought by Mr. Bailie from that 
gentleman, and a charter of the same passed under the 
Great Seal in his favour, July 26th, 1723. On the 20th' 
of July, 1727> Allangrange disponed them to Alexander 
Chisolm of Mucherack, who was infeft (as Crown vassal) 
the 21st of July the same year. By disposition dated 
9th of November, 1742, and registered in the books of 
Session 25th of July, 1774, Alexander Chisolm of Much- 
erack, made over the foresaid properties to Alexander 
Chisolm, eldest son of the said Roderick Chisolm of Comer, 
attainted, and the heirs male of his body." 



58 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 

The Chisholm had visited his estate, at 
various times, during his earlier years; and 
these visits might have served to keep alive, 
in his young heart, an affection strong and 
fervent for his native country. But other 
links of interest had already fastened them- 
selves around him, and bound closely together 
the lord and the tenantry of that soil. The 
circumstances herewith connected have al- 
ready been described in the preceding pages ; 
and reference is made to them again, only 
for the purpose of observing the strong con- 
firmation which they receive from the fact 
now presented to our notice, that he, who, 
in the days of his boyish minority, had deter- 
mined to undertake the burden of liquidating 
his father's debts, and, of his own free will, 
had remitted to his tenantry such arrears 
of rent as seemed to be just, — should have 
shown the continuance and consistency of 
that generous and high resolve, and his desire 
to secure to all dependent upon him their 
rights, by returning, in the very outset and 
prime of his manhood, to live among them, 
and to watch over them,, and to find his first 
and fairest field of duty, amid the hills and 



ATTAINS HIS MAJORITY. 59 

glens of his own Highland scenery. From 
this time forward, the home of his fathers was 
his own home ; and he seldom left it, until the 
duties, which soon afterwards devolved upon 
him as representative of his native county in 
Parliament, summoned him, for a certain por- 
tion of every year, to London. 

It is remarkable, that, with so much that 
was calculated to draw back his thoughts and 
affections to England, — the scene of his edu- 
cation, and the home of his companions and 
friends, — he should not have been tempted to 
tarry there. But the path of duty was before 
him, and he turned not aside from following 
it. During the first three years of his resi- 
dence at Erchless, — that is, from the begin- 
ning of 1831 to the close of 1833, — he lived 
for the most part alone ; his mother and sis- 
ter and brother, with other friends, only pay- 
ing him occasional visits. After that period, 
his mother and sister became his permanent 
guests ; and his brother, having, on the 24th 
of May, 1831, received a commission in the 
Coldstream Guards, was engaged in his mili- 
tary duties ; but whenever opportunities (and 
they were frequent) allowed them to meet, 



60 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 

the brothers were always found, as they had 
been from earliest childhood, joined together 
in the closest bonds of dear companionship. 

The Ohisholm soon took a prominent part 
in the affairs which then occupied public at- 
tention. But, before we follow him thither, 
it may serve in some degree to show the 
course of life which, thus early, he pursued 
at Erchless, if we glance at the sketch afforded 
of it in the following letter. It was written 
by a lady of rank in that country to his 
mother, and describes the impression made, 
even in the absence of its owner, upon those 
who casually visited his abode. 

Ci My dear Lady Ramsay, — The day be- 
fore yesterday, Mrs. being here on a 

visit for a few days, I took her to see the 
falls of Kilmorack and your beautiful scenery 

higher up. , , and were of 

our party. The day and the road were both 
so fine that we went further than we intended, 
and when we got to Aigas 2 agreed that we 

2 The reader is referred, for an accurate and interesting 
description of all this scenery, to the Eighth Section, 
pp. 528—538, of the excellent " Guide to the Highlands 
and Islands of Scotland, &c." by Mr. George and Mr. 



RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 61 

would go on to Erchles, and get leave to eat 
the cold meat we had brought, in one of the 
empty rooms, as we knew the young Chief 
was not there. I was astonished at the 
beauty of the place, and especially at the 
neatness and order which reigned through- 
out, so different to what one sees in general 
in the Highland Castles. Chisholm's valet 
received us with a politeness his master could 
not have exceeded, and made us welcome. 
He spread a table, and offered us wine, and 
seemed quite hurt when he found we had 
brought everything with us. He took Mrs. 

's horses to the stable, and in short did 

the honours completely, as did the nice re- 
spectable notable looking housemaid and the 
gardener. How very nice the castle is ! 

Mrs. was enchanted with the neatness 

and smiling appearance of everything, and 
I assure you we were carried all through the 
house. It was hardly fair, you will say, for a 
party of ladies to ransack a bachelor's quar- 
ters in this manner, and overhaul his books 

Peter Anderson, brothers of the gentleman to whom the 
writer is indebted for the information given in the note at 
p. 56. 



62 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 

and his music as well as his house. Mrs. 

has a son herself about ChisholnVs age, 

and she and I agreed in admiring the beauti- 
ful picture the whole afforded of the owner's 
habits and mind. She joined in earnestly 
wishing that, at the same time of life, our 
sons'* apartments might vie with Chisholm's ; 
and I must tell you that the example was not 

lost upon . His tutor tells me he was 

greatly struck with the affection and respect 
all his servants spoke of him, and with the 
evidence of useful pursuit and elegant em- 
ployment which the picture without and 
within the castle presented. Indeed, my 
dear Lady Ramsay, you are a happy mother 
to have such a son. The old ladies were 
much against one thing the servants told us 
he planned, moving the stables ; we think it is 
such a distance for his friends*' horses to come, 
that it is a great advantage to have them so 
close at hand, and that if he plants ivy and Ayr- 
shire roses against the walls, makes what he has 
of stabling modern, and plants a dense grove 
and shrubbery between them and the castle, 
he will never wish to have them removed 
further. Also we hope he will not add to 
5 



NOTICE OF THE CLAN. 63 

the old castle yet for many a long year ! It 
is so nice now, and ivy and trellis will do 
wonders to its appearance. In short we 
admire all he has done, and hope he will keep 
out of lime and mortar. What a magnificent 
drive it is from Beauly thither ! If I could 
write a romance, I would describe Erchles as 
the scene of it. 

"I hope, my dear Lady Eamsay, Miss Chis- 
holm is well, I long to see her. What are 
your plans for the summer ? 

" Believe me your's, 
" Most sincerely and affectionately, 



The population upon the estate of the Chis- 
holm had never been very large ; and, in the 
Memorial which w T as transmitted to Govern- 
ment, after the Rebellion of 1745, and said to 
be drawn up by the Lord President Forbes 
of Oulloden, — detailing the force of every 
Clan, the tenures of every Chieftain, and the 
account of retainers which he could bring 
into the field, — the amount of able-bodied 
men which the Ohisholm could then bring 
into the field, was estimated at two hundred ; 



64 NOTICE OF THE CLAN. 

being a smaller number than any which are 
therein enumerated, except those furnished 
by the Maclachlans, Macdougals, Grant of 
Glenmorriston, the Robertsons, and Mac- 
donald of Glencoe 3 . The population, how- 
ever, has been considerably diminished since 
that period, owing to the introduction of the 
large sheep-farming system introduced into 
the Highlands; and, since the year 1790, 
there have been three marked and large emi- 
grations of the Clan Ohisholm to the British 
possessions in North America, amounting in 
all to several hundreds. Many of these were 
Roman Catholics, and they were for the most 
part settled in the Glengarry district of Upper 
Canada, where, along with their fellow-coun- 
trymen the Macdonnells, from Glengarry, 
they were presided over with patriarchal 
kindness and simplicity by one of their own 
name, the late highly-esteemed Roman Ca- 
tholic Bishop Macdonnell. 

The writer has noticed these facts, because 
it gives him the opportunity of introducing a 
remarkable proof of the ardent affection which 

3 See Major- General Stewart's Sketches of the High- 
landers, Vol. i. p. 27 ; and Appendix C. pp. 6 — 10. 



NOTICE OF THE CLAN. 65 

the Highland emigrant retains for his native 
land. No sooner had tidings of the young 
Chisholm's abode in the home of his fathers 
reached the ears of his countrymen in that 
far-off land, than they rejoiced to send him, 
at the earliest opportunity, the assurance of 
their affectionate and hearty sympathy. It 
is evident from the terms of their Address 
that they watched with the liveliest interest 
all that was passing in their native land ; and 
the recollection of the difficulties which had 
encumbered themselves, through the violence 
and treachery of the disaffected in their own 
province and in the border territory, — difficul- 
ties, which, to their honour be it said, they 
had uniformly met in the spirit of unshaken 
loyalty and courage, — led them, probably, to 
view with deeper apprehension the course of 
events at home ; and hence a stronger impulse 
was imparted to the feelings which they thus 
expressed : — 

" Glengarry, Upper Canada." 

" Dear Chief, — It is with great plea- 
sure we embrace the present opportunity of 
transmitting to you, through our much-res- 



66 NOTICE OF THE CLAN. 

pected clansman Dr. Stewart Chisholm, of 
the Royal Artillery (now on his route to 
Scotland), our warmest expressions of regard 
and attachment to you, Chief of our clan. 

"It is true that a wide sea rolls between 
us, — our native glens, and heath-clad hills, 
the land of our forefathers, — but, divided as 
we are, we have still hearts to appreciate the 
value of the institutions of our country. 

" At a time like the present, when Britain 
seems to be insulted by a democracy that 
would destroy all order, and when her ancient 
and perhaps noblest enemy has made order a 
song, we, clansmen of yours, inhabiting the 
wilds of Upper Canada, declare, that, what- 
ever the rest of governors or governed may 
do, we at least shall still be proud to act upon 
the old principle. It may not be irrelevant 
perhaps to say, that, while all other institu- 
tions are on the wane, our patriarchal ones 
remain firm. 

" The King can make a better Knight, 
A Marquis, Duke, an' a' that ; 
A Highland Chief's aboon his might, 
Gude faith, he maun'na fa that." 

" The Highland Chief of a thousand years is 



NOTICE OF THE CLAN. 67 

still the father of his family, and we are proud 
to acknowledge him. 

" Dear Chief, that you may long live to 
enjoy health and prosperity is the ardent and 
sincere wish of your clansmen." 

To this Address were affixed upwards of 
eighty signatures of the Clan, with their pa- 
tronymic designations and localities, and dates 
of emigration ; and among them are included 
those of two members of the Provincial Parr 
liament, four Colonels commanding battalions 
of militia, tw T o Lieutenant-colonels, one Major, 
and several Captains ; four magistrates^ names 
are also attached to it. 

Ere this Address had reached the Chis- 
holm, he had given numerous evidences of his 
earnest desire to make the bonds of Clanship 
the instrument of a far loftier and more en- 
during union than could be effected even by 
the strongest impulses of natural affection; 
and, foremost among these, may be noticed 
the singular propriety with which, on the 
very first public occasion which was presented 
after attaining his majority, he expressed him- 
self on this subject. At a dinner given on 
f 2 



68 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. 

the 27th of May, 1831, at Inverness, to cele- 
brate the re-election of Mr. Charles Grant for 
the county, he was called upon to acknow- 
ledge a toast which ha'd been proposed, 
" Chiefs and Clans, and the Chisholm ;" and, 
in so doing, said, 'he could only hope that 
Highland Chiefs would henceforth employ 
that rank, which was now, he feared, merely 
an empty name, in setting an example for the 
improvement of the people, which in former 
days their situation in the county only ena- 
bled them to prevent V 

The utterance of these sentiments, and the 
circumstances which called them forth, lead 
us to consider the part which the Chisholm 
thought it his duty to take in the affairs of 
the county in which he lived. The first occa- 
sion on which he came forward, was that to 
which reference has been just made, in the 
middle of the year in which he attained his 
majority, 1831, when he seconded the nomina- 
tion of the Right Honourable Charles Grant, 
as a candidate for the representation of the 
county of Inverness. Again, towards the 

4 Inverness Courier, June 1st, 1831. 



HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS, &C. 69 

close of the same year, at a public meeting of 
the Freeholders of the county of Inverness, we 
find him moving an Address to King Wil- 
liam the Fourth, the object of which was to 
assure His Majesty of their attachment to 
his person, and of their gratitude for the 
sanction then given by the Crown to the cor- 
rection of certain abuses in the representative 
system ; of their confidence in the firmness 
and integrity of His Majesty's ministers at 
that time (the cabinet of Earl Grey), and of 
their abhorrence of the atrocious outrages 
which in some places had been perpetrated 
under the assumed mask of reform. The 
mere recital of these topics set forth in the 
Address will remind the reader of the great 
political excitement which, at that time, pre- 
vailed throughout every part of the United 
Kingdom. The Bill for Parliamentary Eeform 
had been brought into the House of Com- 
mons ; and, although carried by a majority of 
one, its progress afterwards was obstructed 
by adverse divisions, and a hasty dissolution 
of Parliament had taken place. Then followed 
the popular struggle and the popular triumph 
of the general election, the re-introduction of 



70 RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE, 

the Reform Bill, its passage through the 
House of Commons, and its rejection by the 
House of Lords. It is needless to detail the 
wretched and distracting strife attending all 
this train of events ; still less can it be re- 
quired to make any further mention of the 
violent outrages referred to in the Address, 
and which, at Nottingham and Bristol espe- 
cially, had caused such great destruction of life 
and property ; for the traces of that violence 
are not even yet effaced from the scenes in 
which it was perpetrated, nor can the memory 
of it have passed away from the hearts either 
of those who witnessed, or those who from a 
distance were assured of, its sad reality. 

The only reason which has induced the 
writer to allude to these circumstances at all, 
has been to point out the testimony which 
they bear to the nature of the ChisholnVs 
political opinions, at the time when he thus 
appeared before the Freeholders of the county 
of Inverness. The speech of a mover of an 
Address, such as that which he was then called 
upon to propose, may always be regarded as 
proclaiming the sentiments, and oftentimes as 
being the echo, of the Address itself. The 






HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS, &C. 71 

Chisholm's speech, upon this occasion, is no 
exception to the general rule ; and, therefore, 
by this act, he publicly avowed himself a 
supporter of the measures then urged forward 
by the administration of Earl Grey. It was, 
in truth, only a more deliberate confirmation 
of the avowal which he had already made to 
the same effect, when he seconded the nomi- 
nation of Mr. Grant at the general election in 
that year. Nor are these the only evidences 
of the fact. The writer finds a notice in the 
Inverness Journal, on the fourth of January, 
1833, of a dinner given to the Hon. Stewart 
Mackenzie, on which occasion, after the toast 
of 6 Civil and religious liberty ' had been given 
by Mr. Macleod of Oadboll, the Ohisholm 
was called upon to propose ' The new Parlia- 
ment ;' and, in a short speech, commended it 
to the approval of those present as being com- 
posed, for the greater part, of the friends of 
His Majesty's ministers. So likewise, on the 
eleventh of the same month, in the same year, 
another notice is found in the same journal of 
a dinner given to the Right Hon. Charles 
Grant, then M.P. for Inverness-shire, at 
which the Chisholm was present, and pro- 



72 HIS POLITICAL 

posed c The new Constituency ,^ — those per- 
sons, that is, whose franchise had been, for 
the first time, secured to them under the 
provisions of the Reform Bill. 

There can be no hesitation in admitting, to 
its fullest extent, the confirmation supplied, in 
these records of the year 1833, of the fact 
already established by the course which he 
pursued in 1831, that, in the outset of his 
political life, the Ohisholm was a zealous and 
sincere supporter of those measures, upon the 
importance and urgency of which the govern- 
ment of Ear] Grey had made its successful 
appeal to the country. The writer was quite 
prepared to expect, from his knowledge of 
his friend's character, that he would take 
up such a position. He felt, that, if the con- 
viction were forced upon the Ohisholm's mind 
that there were great and glaring anomalies 
in the representative system of the country, 
and consequent injustice inflicted upon certain 
classes of the people, his mind, impatient of 
wrong, and zealous in defence of right, would 
leap forward, with instinctive eagerness, to 
apply to the correction of the evil any remedy 
within his reach ; — that, if his reason ad- 



OPINIONS AND CONDUCT. 73 

mitted, as it could not but admit, the truth 
and justice of that dictum of the philosophic 
statesman, which declares, that ' a state with- 
out the means of some change is without the 
means of its conservation," and, that ' with- 
out such means it might risk even the loss of 
that part of the constitution which it wished 
the most religiously to preserve Y— so his 
affections would embrace no less readily the 
means of change which then invited his sup- 
port, because they came commended to him 
by the favour and advocacy of those whom he 
respected and loved. The intimate relation 
in which he had so long stood towards Mr. 
Grant, who had been one of his guardians, 
from an early period of his childhood, and the 
respect and affection which he justly enter- 
tained for his person, was, of itself, likely to 
lead him to view with partiality any measures 
which were supported by the character and 
eloquence of that accomplished and able 
statesman. Strange were it, if it had not 
been so. It would have argued a want of 
sympathy with the feelings of those whom he 

3 Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. 
Burke's Works, Vol. v. p. 59. 



74 HIS POLITICAL 

had been accustomed to reverence, and a 
proneness to be wise in his own conceits, had 
he not shared the impulse which then ani- 
mated the hearts of a large majority of the 
nation. 

In making these remarks, the writer cannot 
for one moment admit the conclusion which 
some might be inclined to draw from them, 
that the opposition, — bold, unflinching, and 
continued opposition, — which the Ohisholm 
soon afterwards gave to the men whom he 
at first supported, argued either insincerity 
or inconsistency in the principles by which 
he professed to be guided. He believes 
that the course which he pursued, was, from 
first to last, an open and honest one ; and 
that he took not a single step therein but 
such as strictly commended itself to his own 
conscience in the sight of God. And it is 
very remarkable, that, in the records which 
remain of the speeches delivered by him on 
the occasions referred to, more than one evi- 
dence is to be found of his apprehension, lest, 
in the wild tumult of men's passions, any of 
the great landmarks of the constitution might 
be assailed, and weakened, and swept off. 



OPINIONS AND CONDUCT. 75 

Thus, in his speech in moving the County 
Address already mentioned, the following 
passage occurs : " that the meeting was not 
assembled to discuss any particular measure 
of reform, nor to re-echo the cry of c the Bill, 
the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill \ nor 
to pass a vote of censure on the House of 
Lords, because they had exercised their un- 
doubted and indisputable right to reject even 
what had been sanctioned by the House of 
Commons. No person was entitled to ques- 
tion the purity of the motives which induced 
them to act as they had done : they were un- 
questionably entitled to reject the Bill, if they 
conscientiously believed that by passing it 
into a law they endangered the stability of 
the British constitution 4 ." Thus also, in his 
short speech at the dinner to Mr. Stewart 
Mackenzie, having affirmed of His Majesty*^ 
ministers that they had " proved themselves to 
be true friends of civil and religious liberty," 
he adds, " on the other hand, no person could 
deny that civil and religious liberty might be 
carried too far, and degenerate into licence \" 

4 Inverness Journal, November 13th, 1831. 

5 Inverness Journal, January 4th, 1833. 



76 HIS POLITICAL 

Let it be remembered, that the time at 
which these words were spoken was marked 
by extreme violence of thought and language, 
manifested, in all quarters of the land, by men 
even of enlarged experience and mature age ; 
that, at meetings of this description, the ex- 
citement, whatever it may be, is usually at its 
greatest height, — that the speaker in the pre- 
sent instance was young, ardent, and impe- 
tuous, — that they who are the most practised 
in addressing popular meetings, are, at such 
moments, apt to be led further than they 
intended, — and that to state, in cautious and 
discriminating language, before an assembled 
multitude, sentiments which, the more boldly 
and strongly they are proclaimed would pro- 
bably be more welcome to the majority of the 
hearers, is a work which demands not only 
firmness of principle, but also sobriety of 
thought, and calmness of expression : — let all 
these circumstances be borne in mind, and 
the statements quoted above must be ad- 
mitted to be no slight indications, on the 
part of him who gave them utterance, that he 
would be as stedfast in preserving the right, 
as he was zealous in amending the wrong. 



OPINIONS AND CONDUCT. 77 

The time soon came in which he thought the 
right was put in jeopardy, and he shrank not 
from the trial which it brought. That it in- 
volved much that was calculated to give pain 
to some of those most closely connected with 
him, as well as to himself, there could be 
no doubt ; but, as difference of political sen- 
timent had made no difference hitherto, in 
the affectionate and friendly intercourse which 
he maintained with others, who could not 
bring themselves to approve of the particular 
measure of reform which he had thought it 
his duty to support ; so, w r hen he witnessed 
the originators of those very measures en- 
dangering the benefits which they had realized, 
by acts which he believed unworthy of them, 
he could not suffer the regard which he enter- 
tained for the persons of the men, to abate 
a single impulse of that energy, wherewith he 
felt himself summoned to resist the mischief 
of their counsels. 



CHAPTER VI. 



PROMOTES THE WORK OF EDUCATION, &C. — PROPOSES 
MACLEOD FOR THE COUNTY OF INVERNESS. 

Before we advert more particularly to the 
reasons which led the Chisholm to turn aside 
from the support of those political parties 
whose cause he had at first espoused, — and 
which will be found to have arisen out of the 
proceedings of Parliament in the Sessions of 
1833 and 1834, — it may be well to notice the 
assistance which he gave to the efforts made at 
that time in behalf of the great work of Edu- 
cation in his native country. A fearful neces- 
sity existed for making such efforts. It ap- 
pears from an investigation, instituted by the 
Inverness Education Society in 1826, — very 
comprehensive in its general scope and very 






PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 79 

minute in its details, and promoted by most 
diligent exertions on the part of the Parochial 
Clergy, — that, out of a population of about 
500,000, there were upwards of 80,000 totally 
unable to read, and that of the remainder a 
great proportion had been very imperfectly 
taught. This result, which had been printed 
in the Society^s Moral Statistics, was con- 
firmed by the result of a similar inquiry con- 
ducted by a Committee of the General Assem- 
bly, and set forth in the Educational Statis- 
tics of their Report for the year 1833; and 
in moving, at a public meeting of the Inver- 
ness Education Society, a resolution founded 
upon these statements, in the month of No- 
vember, 1834, the Chisholm spoke to the 
following effect. 

After having recited not only the vast 
amount of those who were totally unable to 
read, but also the fact mentioned above, that 
of the remainder a large proportion were very 
imperfectly taught, he observed, " When we 
consider that the backwardness to study is 
generally in proportion to the difficulty met 
with, we may safely conclude, that, out of what 
may be called the educated part of the High- 
5 



80 PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 

land poor, very few retain the power of read- 
ing. Moreover, a great many of the readers 
have been taught only to read in Gaelic, a 
language peculiarly deficient in works, both 
of elementary instruction to excite, and of 
more advanced literature to feed, the appetite 
for knowledge. It may be said, however, that 
though these poor beings cannot taste the 
sweets of literature, there is yet no imme- 
diate call for the exertion of Christian philan- 
thropy. They have access to the Scriptures ; 
they cannot indeed search them, but they 
may hear them; they cannot examine for 
themselves and meditate upon their sacred 
truths, but they may have them preached to 
them once in three weeks (as you have heard 
in the Report), it may be once a fortnight. 
But I fear they will often be found to want 
even this poor supply ; for when we come to 
think of parishes fifty miles in length, with a 
breadth of twenty miles, we can easily under- 
stand how there may be a want of religious 
instruction, without imputing to the clergy- 
man any greater blame than the want of ubi- 
quity. Neither can we suppose that the light 
of the instructed can in any great degree 



PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 81 

dispel the darkness of the untaught. The 
stars are too few and their lustre too feeble 
to admit of their penetrating sensibly the 
night of ignorance. Without, however, dwel- 
ling upon these considerations, the fact is still 
before us, that there are more than 80,000 
unable to read. Nor is it forgotten, that the 
benefits of extended instruction will apply 
directly only to those under the age of twenty. 
To the others the proper season of instruc- 
tion has gone by ; but, as you have heard it 
very well observed in the Report, they may 
partake of the crumbs that fall from the full 
fed, and, by a striking reversal of nature, the 
parent may be taught by the child : — for the 
blessing of instruction is like the widow's oil, 
however few the drops, however large the 
demand upon them, when once possessed, 
they will not fan. The smallest taper is suf- 
ficient to give light to a thousand brilliant 
lamps ; and so, the reading of the Holy Scrip- 
tures by the merest child, who perhaps un- 
derstandeth not what he readeth, may, by the 
blessing of God, convey the light of the know- 
ledge of the truth to the hitherto benighted 
mind of the aged being who is fast approach- 



82 PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 

ing to the grave. The number of persons 
between the ages of six, and twenty, whom 
this Society would propose directly to instruct, 
is computed at about 28,000; and to teach 
these, from 400 to 500 additional schools are 
required. After stating these facts, I think 
I need say nothing more to awaken the Chris- 
tian philanthropist ; the Highlanders are eager 
to be taught ; they only want the means ; 
and I agree with the statement in the Report, 
that the public of Inverness are particularly 
called upon to contribute, from the benefit 
which, I believe, is universally acknowledged 
they have derived from the Central School." 
He then concluded by moving a resolution 
which embodied the sentiments which he had 
expressed 1 . 

The man, who could thus urge on his coun- 
trymen to feed the souls of their poorer breth- 
ren with the food needful for them, of course 
supported them by his example ; and, in 
token of his desire to encourage the school- 
masters of his own district, namely, Carrich 
Bridge and Aigas, to make their utmost 
efforts in behalf of the children entrusted to 
1 Inverness Journal, November 14th, 1834. 



PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 83 

their care, a note is found, subjoined to the 
advertisement from the Clerk of Supply for 
Schoolmasters at those places, in which the 
Ohisholm intimates his intention of giving, in 
addition to his legal assessment, a gratuity of 
twelve pounds ten shillings to each school- 
master, at the annual examination of their 
respective pupils, — provided that he were 
formally satisfied with their general conduct, 
and with their attention, particularly to the 
religious instruction of the children 2 . 

Upon the necessity and vital importance of 
a religious education, the Ohisholm always 
held but one opinion, a deeply-rooted and 
sincere conviction, that this process of train- 
ing the young mind in the knowledge and 
practice of Christian truth, was the only 
means by which, through God's blessing, 
any one who had been received into the con- 
gregation of Christ's flock in Baptism, could 
be enabled to meet the high and holy require- 
ments to which he was thereby made subject. 
It was a matter in which he felt, that, as a 
Christian, he had no choice. For he con- 
sidered, that, on the one hand, the ignorance 

2 Inverness Journal, November 28th, 1834. 

g2 



84 PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 

and frailty of the natural man, was evidence 
enough of the need in which he stood of re- 
ceiving help, from a source purer and loftier 
than any which he could himself discover; and 
that, on the other hand, the fulness of that 
knowledge which the Volume of Inspiration 
furnished, was evidence no less clear that there- 
in was the help contained, and thence was it to 
be derived. The opposite opinions maintained 
by many upon that subject, — opinions which 
professed to deal with man only as an intel- 
lectual being, without any reference whatever 
to his higher and eternal destinies, — were, at 
that moment, canvassed with more than ordi- 
nary zeal, and brought out, by collision, many 
a strong announcement and vindication of the 
truth. 

It was so with the subject of this Memoir. 
He could not be indifferent to the facts which 
the political events of the day were, every day 
and every hour, forcing upon his attention. 
The discussions to which they gave rise, were 
such as brought him back to the consideration 
of first principles, and to the trial of their in- 
tegrity. Those, for instance, which were con- 
nected with the debate upon the Irish Church 



PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 85 

Bill, in the Session of 1833, — especially the 
memorable 147th clause, which contained a 
provision for applying part of the funds of 
the Church to purposes not ecclesiastical, and 
which, to the great wrath and confusion of 
the enemies of the Church, was afterwards 
abandoned by Ministers in the House of 
Commons, — could not but have led his mind 
to a careful examination of the grounds upon 
which such a measure was to be justified or 
condemned. It was to him no new process of 
inquiry ; the chief points connected with it 
had long been familiar to his mind ; and the 
review which he was now compelled to take 
of them, — the comparison of them which he 
carefully made with the opinions advanced by 
the foremost champions on either side in both 
Houses of Parliament, — all led him to rest 
more firmly than ever in the conviction, that, 
the spiritual instruction of its subjects being 
a paramount obligation in a Christian state, 
it was not lawful to alienate, for any other 
purposes than those which bore directly upon 
that great work, the temporal possessions of 
the Church, " of which the State was not the 



86 PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 

proprietor either for use or dominion, but the 
guardian and regulator 3 ." 

Now, it is evident that this conviction, — if 
not afterwards abandoned as unsound, — must 
either have been allowed to remain stored up 
in his mind, inert and inoperative, and thereby 
contradict itself,— or must have stirred him 
up to resolute and instant action against the 
assailant. No other alternative was open 
to him. And, accordingly, when towards the 
end of May, 1834, a resolution was introduced 
into the House of Commons by Mr. Ward, 
Member for St. Alban^s, to reduce the pos- 
sessions of the Church in Ireland, and when 
the principle which it involved, — namely, the 
appropriation of the property of the Church 
to any other but Church purposes — seemed 
adopted by the majority of Earl Grey^s cabi- 
net, however much upon other grounds they 
were opposed to the mover of the resolution, 
— he felt that it was impossible to act upon 
such a principle, and not endanger the best 
and dearest interests of the British empire. 

3 Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France, 
Works, Vol. v. p. 191. 



PROMOTES EDUCATION, &C. 87 

He ceased, therefore, from that time forth, to 
strengthen the hands of the supporters of 
such measures. And yet, equally impossible 
was it to be neutral. However painful, then, 
the struggle of separation, — and the writer 
has reason to know that it was most painful 
to him, — he resolved to make it. However 
much it might expose him to misrepresenta- 
tion or reproach, — and his sensitive tempera- 
ment was at all times too feelingly alive to 
erroneous constructions passed upon his con- 
duct, — he was content to bear it all. The 
assurance that right was upon his side, and 
that he would betray its sacred prerogatives 
if he swerved, for a single instant, from the 
straight path of duty, sustained him at every 
step. 

It is scarcely necessary to remark in this 
place, — for all who take an interest in public 
events must remember, — that the course of 
policy, which wrought the influence here 
described upon the Ohisholm's mind, was 
that which first shook the stability, and ulti- 
mately led to the dissolution, of the cabi- 
net of Earl Grey. Before the debate conse- 
quent upon Mr. Ward's resolution was con- 



88 PROPOSES MACLEOD FOR 

eluded, the resignation of Mr. (now Lord) 
Stanley and Sir James Graham in the Lower 
House, and those of the Duke of Eichmond 
and the Earl of Ripon in the Upper House, 
were announced. The secession of these 
important and influential members of Earl 
Grey's Cabinet was speedily followed by fur- 
ther changes; for, in less than two months 
from the date of their resignation, Earl Grey 
himself had ceased to be Prime Minister. 

To detail these events, or to pass any opi- 
nion respecting them, forms no part of the 
writer's present object. They have been re- 
ferred to solely for the purpose of explaining 
the political conduct of the subject of this 
Memoir ; and his own speeches are the only 
commentary which it is necessary to give 
upon them. 

An opportunity soon arrived for declaring 
his sentiments. The death of Earl Spencer 
on the tenth of November, 1834, and the 
dissolution of Lord Melbourne's Cabinet 
which followed that event, were succeeded 
by the appointment of Sir Robert Peel to the 
office of Prime Minister, and by a proclama- 
tion, issued by his advice on the thirtieth of 



THE COUNTY OF INVERNESS. 89 

December, in the same year, dissolving the 
Parliament which then existed, and convoking 
a new Parliament, which was to meet on the 
nineteenth of February, 1835. At the nomi- 
nation which consequently took place of candi- 
dates for the representation of the county of 
Inverness on the eighteenth of January, 1835, 
theChisholm proposed Macleod of Macleod in 
opposition to the Right Honourable Charles 
Grant. Macleod was absent from the hust- 
ings on account of indisposition, but his poli- 
tical opinions were to be judged from what he 
authorized his proposer to declare, that, " as 
long as Sir Robert Peel adhered to the prin- 
ciples laid down in his speech at the dinner 
of the Lord Mayor, and in his address to 
his own constituents at Tamworth, he would 
support him." The ground therefore of op- 
position was openly and boldly taken, and it 
was a most arduous position for the young 
Chisholm to occupy. The speech of Mr. 
Grant, upon that occasion, was in every way 
worthy of himself; and, assuredly, no abler 
advocate could be found of the various mea- 
sures brought forward by the Administrations 
of which he had been a member. The con- 



90 PROPOSES MACLEOD, &C. 

trast also presented between the position then 
occupied by the Chisholm, and that which 
he had a short time before maintained, was 
one which, in the hands of so practised and 
powerful a speaker as Mr. Grant, was not 
likely to be lost ; and, whilst regard to truth 
and his own generosity of temper forbade him 
to press with undue rigour upon his young 
opponent, every effect was nevertheless given, 
as might have been expected, to the weapons 
which he thought fit to exercise. But the 
Chisholm bore himself manfully in the con- 
flict ; and the report of his speeches upon 
that occasion amply confirms the testimony of 
those who heard them, as to the ability and 
presence of mind which he then displayed. 



CHAPTER VII. 



IS HIMSELF ELECTED MEMBER FOR THE COUNTY. 

The contest mentioned in the last chapter 
terminated in the election of Mr. Grant for 
the county of Inverness, by a majority of 
seven, so that the Chisholm's first political 
struggle was not crowned with victory. He 
desisted not, however, from the course which 
he had judged it right to pursue ; and at a 
dinner given to Major Cumming Bruce, at In- 
verness, on the sixth of February, in the same 
year, 1835, publicly declared his determination 
to persevere. A very few weeks saw him 
once more engaged in the conflict, and tri- 
umphant. For, upon the resignation of Sir 
Robert Peel in the following April, and the 
formation, for the second time, of Lord Mel- 



92 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

bourne's Cabinet, a vacancy was caused in the 
representation of the county of Inverness by 
the elevation of Mr. Grant, then Secretary of 
State for the Colonies, to the House of Lords, 
with the title of Lord Glenelg. Upon this, 
Grant of Glenmoriston came forward as a can- 
didate with the support of the late member's 
friends, and professing to adhere to the same 
political views, and the Chisholm was his op- 
ponent. 

It was not from any motives of personal 
ambition that he put himself thus forward, 
for he never looked forward to a Parliament- 
ary life as one likely to be congenial to him, 
nor did it prove to be so ; — nevertheless, he 
entered upon the task, from the persuasion 
that it was his duty to encounter it. Mac- 
leod, whom he had proposed at the general 
election in January, and who, through indis- 
position, could not then appear upon the hus- 
tings, was since dead. Another candidate on 
the Conservative interest had been announced, 
but, after having proceeded some way in his 
canvass, he had retired from the contest ; 
upon which, the Chisholm instantly obeyed 
the call which he received from a large body 



FOR THE COUNTY. 93 

of the constituency that he should consent to 
be put in nomination. He was at that time 
staying in Edinburgh, and communicated the 
fact to his mother in the following short but 
characteristic letter : 

" My dearest Mother, — You will be 
surprised that I have started for the county 
of Inverness. You know it is an honour I 
am not ambitious of; but it seems a duty 

forced upon me. has given it up, and 

I can see no other Conservative likely to take 
the field. I pray that I may be enabled to 
keep the glory of Gcd solely in view. Pray 
for me, my dearest mother. 

" Your affectionate son, 
" A. W. Chisholm." 

" Lady Ramsay, Erchless Castle, Beauly." 

The contest was a very severe one, but the 
Ohisholm was elected by a majority of twenty- 
eight votes, which election was confirmed by 
a subsequent Report of a Committee of the 
House of Commons, before whom a petition 
had been presented against his return. The 
following was the Address he made, on that 
occasion, to the electors of the county : — 



94 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

"Gentlemen, — A vacancy having oc- 
curred in the representation of our county, 
I venture to offer myself as a candidate for 
your suffrages. 

" My political sentiments are, I presume 
to think, already sufficiently known to almost 
all of you. Favourable to the judicious reform 
of every abuse, and the adoption of every 
solid improvement, I yet avow myself cor- 
dially attached to the principles of that con- 
stitution, in Church as well as in State, 
which it is the glory and happiness of this 
nation to possess, which has hitherto, under 
Providence, been the safeguard of our civil 
and religious liberties, and whose privileges 
are associated with the dearest feelings of the 
British people. 

"lam not insensible to the high honour to 
which I aspire, nor ignorant of the important 
duties that belong to your representative. 
Should that proud distinction be conferred 
upon me by your suffrages, I am willing that 
my conduct shall be the test of my gratitude, 
though I well know how far short it must fall 
of what I shall owe to you and to my country 
at large. 



FOR THE COUNTY. 95 

" The shortness of the time to elapse before 
the election, will probably prevent my waiting 
upon all of you. To those, therefore, whom 
I may be unable to visit, I respectfully offer 
this apology, and earnestly entreat you to 
come forward on the day of election, and 
avail yourselves of this opportunity of record- 
ing your determination to uphold the vene- 
rated institutions of our country. 

" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, 
" Your obedient and faithful Servant, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm. 

" Erchless Castle, 23rd April, 1835." 

Of the speech delivered by him at the 
hustings, on the day of nomination, the fol- 
lowing extract is perhaps the best exposition 
of the opinions which he professed to hold. 
After adverting to some points of mere mo- 
mentary interest, he thus proceeded : — 

" I have been accused of being too young, 
— that is a fault which I believe is mending 
every day. In coming before you on the 
present occasion, as a candidate for your 
suffrage, I trust I may be able to show (if 



96 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

any would accuse me of such) that I have 
neither been actuated by unwarrantable pre- 
sumption nor a vain desire of personal distinc- 
tion. That this has not been the case, that 
I have had at least some countenance, and 
been honoured with some share of notice, I 
may appeal for proof to the list of respected 
and distinguished names that bear testimony 
on my behalf. I may turn proudly to the 
array of friends that have accompanied me 
hither. I may make mention of the intelli- 
gence, the wealth, the sterling worth of those 
who have not disdained to offer me their sup- 
port. Thus supported, how could I shrink ? 
Thus urged forward, and in the path of duty 
too, how could I draw back ? I say the path 
of duty, gentlemen, for who can look round 
upon the aspect of public affairs, who can 
contemplate the rapid progress of change, the 
restless activity of innovation, unsatisfied with 
what is, simply because it has so long been, 
and not feel within him that which forbids 
him to pause, which urges him to action, 
which speaks irresistibly, ' Up and be doing ;' 
for he that strives not to be foremost in his 
defence is the enemy of his country. I would 



FOR THE COUNTY. 97 

not have you think, however, that because I 
thus speak I am an enemy to all that bears the 
name of change, that I refuse to prune be- 
cause I root not up. On the contrary, I am 
most anxious, and I believe those who think 
with me are so too, to evince my regard for 
the institutions of our country, by removing 
what is defective and unwholesome with an 
unsparing hand, and encouraging the growth 
of all that is useful and sound. But I am one 
of those who think that there still exists in 
these institutions a healthful principle of life, 
and that the course of treatment which alone 
can succeed, is that which is founded upon an 
inquiry into the nature of that principle, and 
adapted to it. And it is because I saw that 
our late government were of this opinion and 
boldly acted upon it, that I would have given 
them my feeble support. Sir Robert Peel, 
than whom, by the confession of all parties, 
there have stood up few more illustrious 
champions of their country, saw plainly the 
course he had to pursue : he entered upon it ; 
at all events he brought forward matured and 
temperate plans of amendment, plans which 
bore down the ill prepared contrivances of his 

H 



98 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

predecessors ; and what was the result ? He 
was made the victim of as unpatriotic, as 
selfish, as ungenerous a faction as ever dis- 
graced an assembly professing itself delibera- 
tive. And this was the British House of 
Commons, these were the representatives of 
the British nation — aye, and we had our own 
representative there too, gentlemen. What ? 
did we send them there calmly and gravely to 
deliberate, to adopt, or to reject measures 
according to their real merits ; or did we send 
them there to lay aside the dignity of states- 
men, to drive out by force those with whose 
measures they could find no fault, but in 
whose growing popularity they saw the final 
destruction of their own hopes, and to league 
themselves with the revolutionist and the in- 
fidel in their mad assault upon all we vene- 
rate and hold dear ? But could not the 
purposes of faction be answered without en- 
dangering our religion \ Could not our pre- 
sent rulers supplant their opponents without 
attacking the established Church? This is 
not the place, gentlemen, to enter into the 
proof of the intimate connexion that neces- 
sarily subsists between the cause of our esta- 



FOR THE COUNTY. 99 

blishments and the cause of true religion. 
There are more fitting opportunities, and you 
have better advocates for such a proof, were it 
necessary; but I am persuaded you are all 
fully agreed on this point. 

c It may be said, however, as it has before 
been said, and as it has been said to day by 
those who would arrogate to themselves all 
love of liberty, and yet most tyrannically 
overbear and crush, if they could, all who 
presume to differ from them, — because they 
have somehow or other surreptitiously got 
possession of the name of Liberals, — it may 
be said by such, 4 Oh, we have no desire to 
injure the Church ; far from it. Our mea- 
sures spring from the purest love and regard 
for the Church. We only desire to do away 
with a very reasonable objection on the part 
of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, that they 
pay so much for a Church from whose doc- 
trines they differ : we only wish to remove 
from the Church the oppressive load of its 
own wealth.'' I answer to the first of these 
seemingly plausible objections, that the Pro- 
testant landholders of Ireland pay 19-20ths 
of the tithe composition. I answer to the 
h2 



100 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

second, that the revenues of the Irish Church, 
under the proposed tithe bill of Sir Robert 
Peel, would have amounted to 450,000?. a 
year ; and dividing 400,000?. (as the revenue 
of that parochial clergy), by 1450, (the num- 
ber of benefices now existing) you will get 
a product of about 270?. as the average in- 
come of the beneficed clergy. Is this too 
much ? Add to this, that a very large pro- 
portion of tithes due has not been paid, 
owing to the agitation and other causes 
which I need not describe; and I am sure 
you will agree with me that the law ought at 
least to be vindicated, and deserving men (for 
the parochial clergy of Ireland are indeed 
deserving, benevolent, kind, and now at least 
actively and energetically useful,) should be 
rescued from beggary and peril before aliena- 
tion is even thought of. 

f But I have been accused, gentlemen, by 
some, of being an Episcopalian, and therefore, 
say these sagacious accusers, of course an 
enemy to the Church of Scotland. I much 
regret the valuable time, and still more valu- 
able labour, which these zealous advocates of 
the Church of Scotland have no doubt devoted 



FOR THE COUNTY. 101 

to the diligent study of her doctrines, and the 
careful comparison of them with those of the 
English Church, if they have arrived at no 
more just conclusion, than that he who be- 
longs to the one must therefore abjure the 
other. — Why, they could scarcely have said 
more, had I been a Mahometan. The truth 
is, gentlemen, as I am sure you know, that 
in doctrine these Churches fully agree. This 
at all events is not the time for them to 
quarrel, and I here declare myself a friend, a 
sincere admirer, a lover of the Church of 
Scotland, though I do indeed confess the 
atrocious crime of belonging to the Episco- 
palian Church ; a crime to which, if I re- 
member well, your late Right Honourable 
Member pleaded guilty also a short time back 
from this place. But I will go further and 
say, that my love for the Presbyterian, as an 
established Church, is among the strongest 
and highest motives which will lead me, should 
I be returned as your representative, with 
determined hostility to oppose any alienation 
of the revenues of the Irish Church. 

' But, gentlemen, to descend for a moment 
to lower ground, there is another reason com- 



102 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

mon to us all why I see cause to tremble at the 
attack which has been commenced on the Esta- 
blishment in the sister island. I see in that 
attack but the first skirmishing that goes 
before a general and more close engagement ; 
before the close of which, if we now drive not 
back the enemy, there will be made a despe- 
rate and fatal onslaught upon every species of 
property, fatal alike to the deluded aggressors 
and miserable victims of their mad assault. 
That our enemies, our foreign enemies, be- 
lieve that religion itself will be speedily over- 
thrown among us, by the measures of our 
present rulers, who can doubt, that listens 
to the exulting cry of France, where all varie- 
ties of party unite together in lifting up the 
voice of triumph over the crumbling Establish- 
ment of once favoured England? By no 
means the best feature in the aspect of the 
present time is, that we have to witness a 
ministry of England not very capable in them- 
selves, forced against his will upon the King, 
distrusted by the House of Lords, opposed by 
a large and most compact minority of the House 
of Commons, under the guidance of a leader, 
whom I think we may now call one of the 



FOR THE COUNTY. 103 

first men of the age, and depending for their 
very existence at each moment upon the fiat 
of a shifting party, whose only aim seems to 
be the destruction of their country, — we have 
to witness, I say, a ministry already so degraded, 
yet humbling themselves still further to bow 
their necks under the yoke of an unprincipled 
and mercenary demagogue. Yes, gentlemen, 
England is now governed by the enemy of her 
country, the constant, the untiring, the per- 
petual disturber of the peace of Ireland. 

' I have been accused also, gentlemen, of be- 
ing opposed to any protective duty in favour 
of the corn grower. To this accusation I give 
a flat denial. I know the present distress of 
the agricultural interest, and I grieve for it ; 
I shall ever be most anxious to give every as- 
sistance to them in my power, for I am deci- 
dedly opposed to the theories of those who 
would advance the manufacturing interest at 
the expense of the agricultural. I should 
rather say, who would strive to advance them ; 
for I know them to be so inseparably bound 
up with, and dependent upon each other, that 
the oppression of the one must ultimately be 
the ruin of both. But upon this, and upon 



104 IS ELECTED MEMBER 

any other subject, I will hold myself free to 
deliberate and to act with a due regard to 
time and circumstances. The praise which 
has been accorded to my honourable oppo- 
nent, of having had longer experience in the 
business of the county than I have, and there- 
fore understanding it better, — this praise, and 
every other which may be his due, I willingly 
and gladly concede to him. I do think, how- 
ever, that the business of this county is not of 
so very complicated and difficult a nature as 
that, with ordinary abilities and moderate at- 
tention, one may not in a short time become 
master of it. I shall, should your choice fall 
upon me, as I have every reason to believe it 
will, and by a large majority, give all the 
attention in my power to your interests, 
gentlemen, in particular, and to those of the 
country at large. I have only now to thank 
you for the patient hearing you have given 
meV 

In the address also which he made to his 
friends, after the struggle had ended in his tri- 
umph, the following passage deserves notice: — 

1 Inverness Journal, May 8th, 1835. 



FOR THE COUNTY. 105 

6 In the midst of our triumph, I cannot 
but deeply regret that he 2 who, in the time 
of its adversity, fought the battle of Conserva- 
tism so nobly and so well, and who, we may 
even say with truth, perished among us in its 
defence, should not have been spared to witness 
this day, our triumph and his own, and to 
take the place he so ardently desired among 
the legislature of our country as the victorious 
champion of the good old cause. Let us not 
forget, however, while we exult, what we owe, 
under Providence, to his labours, his self- 
sacrifice, his devotion^ to that cause. An- 
other, and a feeble instrument, has been raised 
up in the person of him who now addresses 
you. But I lose sight of the weakness of the 
instrument when I remember the Power who 
employs it, — employs it, I firmly trust and 
hope, to be the zealous, the untiring defender 
of our religion, our liberty, and our laws. If 
there has arisen any thing of animosity in our 
contest, I trust it will now be forgotten, that 
so, when any of your children shall ask you at 
some future time, What is Conservatism ? you 

2 Macleod, of Macleod, whom he had proposed as can- 
didate for the county a few months before. 



106 IS ELECTED MEMBER. 

may point at home for an example, — you may 
say our native county is a Conservative county 
— Conservative alike of all that we venerate 
in our public institutions, and all that is lovely 
and amiable in private life."*"* 

There is a solemnity of thought, and a free- 
dom from impassioned language, in all this, 
which, at such a moment, and in one so young, 
is most remarkable. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



LETTERS TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER. — FAMILY WORSHIP. 

Having shown, in the three preceding chap- 
ters, the opinions and conduct of the Ohis- 
holm, with regard to the great subjects of 
national interest then forced upon his atten- 
tion by the course of public events, the writer 
turns aside from that train of narrative to 
relate, as far as he is able, the tenor of the 
Chisholnfs private thoughts and life, during 
the same period. The materials for doing 
this consist, as has been before said, of little 
more than the information derived from the 
letters which he wrote to his mother and 
sister ; and these are not very numerous, as 
may be expected, from the fact already stated, 



108 LETTERS TO HIS 

that they were his guests during the greater 
period of his residence at Erehless Castle. Yet, 
the letters are full of interest, and most valu- 
able, as supplying evidences not to be mistaken 
of the character of the writer. 

The first selected for this purpose was 
written a very few weeks previous to the 
exciting scenes connected with the county 
election, in which, as we have seen, the 
Chisholm took so prominent a part. He 
had been summoned from Erehless, in the 
early part of December, 1834, to Moy Hall, 
situated a few miles on the other side of In- 
verness, to visit, in her hour of dangerous 
illness, Lady Mackintosh, the aunt of his 
mother. His mother was already in attend- 
ance upon her, and his sister had meanwhile 
been left at Erehless, to watch over and con- 
duct the various arrangements which he had 
established for the benefit of his household. 
The faithful spirit in which he had instituted 
and conducted these, and the affectionate 
anxiety which he displayed respecting them, 
whilst he was detained from home by other 
cares, cannot be more clearly set forth than 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 109 

in the following letter which he then wrote 
to his sister : — 

" Inverness, Dec. 17th, 1834. 

" My dearest Jemima, — I entirely and 
highly approve of all you have been doing 
since we left home, and I give you my best 
thanks for your kind attention to what I 
wished. I am particularly delighted with 
your activity and industry in your religious 
occupations and instructions, and I earnestly 
pray God that He may prosper your labour, 
and bless you. You will soon find clearly and 
distinctly that He does so, if you go on in the 
fear and love of Him, and with constant and 
fervent prayer to Him. 

46 It is not among the least gratifying parts 
of your short history of proceedings, that which 
records your great punctuality. So far from 
being displeased, I am delighted at your 
thoughtfulness and prudence in having the 
catechising to go on in the hall, and I am 
quite sure you would attend to the orderly 
dismissal of the out-of-doors audience. 

u Poor Lady Mackintosh is a great deal 
better. I have only seen her twice as yet ; 
once last night, and once before. Last night 



110 LETTERS TO HIS 

I spoke a little to her on religious matters, 
and prayed beside her, and read her a Psalm 
and a chapter, — the twenty-third Psalm, and 
the eighth chapter of Romans ; and I am very 
thankful indeed to say that she expressed after- 
wards, not to me, her pleasure, and the comfort 
she felt. I trust and pray, that God may be 
with me and with her, and enable me to give, 
and her to receive, that spiritual consolation 
of which you speak, and w 7 hich alone can be 
of any service to her. I was not able to write 
to you yesterday, as I was busy here till the 
time for my returning to Moy. I have been 
obliged to come in here these three mornings 
about our schoolmasters. I hope it is all now 
satisfactorily settled. 

" I will write you again if I can. I shall, 
perhaps, be up with you for a day in the be- 
ginning of the week ; if so, I will let you 
know. I have to meet my tenants about 
their votes. May God bless you ! 

" Ever your most attached brother, 

" Alexander W. Chtsholm." 

" Miss Chisholm, of Chisholm, 
Erchless Castle, Beauly." 



MOTHER AND SISTER. Ill 

" P.S. You could not have done otherwise 
about the servants coming in to town." 

The season of Christmas was then nigh at 
hand, and he was most anxious that it should 
not be desecrated by any of that rude and 
unhallowed revelry, which too often casts 
shame upon many who profess to welcome its 
return with joy. From this reproach, his own 
household and dependants had not been in 
former years exempt ; and, foreseeing that 
the attendance, which he felt it his duty still 
to give in the sick chamber of Lady Mack- 
intosh, might withdraw from them the check 
of his own presence, he went over to Erchless 
Castle, a few days before Christmas-Day, that 
he might concert with his sister such mea- 
sures as might appear to them most likely to 
secure the object which he had at heart. He 
was the more anxious on this point, as he had 
agreed to bring his sister back with him, that 
they might both celebrate the services of that 
holy season in the company of their mother. 
Upon his arrival at home, he found that his 
sister thought it better to remain at the 
Castle, to make up as much as possible for 



112 LETTERS TO HIS 

his unavoidable absence ; and, concurring 
with her in the propriety of this arrangement, 
he instantly sat down and wrote the follow- 
ing letter to his mother : — 

" Erchless Castle, Dec. 23d, 1334. 

" My dearest Mother, — Jemima, who 
is writing to you herself, is so properly anxious 
to be at home on Christmas- Day, in order 
that the servants may be induced to spend 
this season of rejoicing with a better view 
of the cause of joy, and in a more suitable 
manner than last time, that, if you can make 
up your mind to allow it, I am clearly of opi- 
nion that it will be, by the blessing of God, 
of great use and advantage to my dear sister 
herself, and to the family and the people whom 
she has been taught so mercifully to take 
charge of. I am sorry we should be separate 
on that most happy occasion ; but we know 
that it is not right to forbear from direct and 
positive duty, even when it interrupts the 
most pure and holy joy that is confined to 
ourselves. Even the sweetest and most com- 
forting meditation about spiritual things, and 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 113 

the closest secret communion with our hea- 
venly Father ought not, I humbly think, to 
be allowed to draw us away from the zealous 
fulfilment of positive commands and active 
duties. No more I think should the warmest 
desire to share and witness the happiness of 
our dearest friends ; and really Jemima's ac- 
count of her own beautiful employments and 
happy life, at present, are so delightful, and I 
desire so humbly and sincerely to bless the 
Almighty Giver of all good for them, that I 
should regret and fear any interruption of 
them very much. I know, moreover, that 
her staying at home will be of very great use 
to the people. Pray think seriously of this, 
my dearest mother. The bearer will bring 
back an answer early to-morrow morning. 
He will get a pony at Inverness, so that the 
one he takes from hence will be quite rested 
by his return from Moy, and we shall by this 
means get your answer quite in time to set 
out to-morrow if you wish Jemima to go. 
For if she does not go to Moy, of course it 
will be better for her to remain here alto- 
gether ; the day would be cut up by her going 
to Inverness. But the bearer must start very 



114 LETTERS TO HIS 

early from Moy ; so you will, perhaps, give 
him the answer to-night. In haste, 
" My dearest mother, 

" Your most dutiful son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" Lady Ramsay, 
&c. &c." 

After having dispatched this letter, he was 
desirous to write a brief word of admonition, 
to be delivered by his sister to his household 
after his departure : but, as time was press- 
ing, and he could not satisfy himself as to the 
mode of his expressing his wishes, he returned 
forthwith to Moy Hall, and wrote the follow- 
ing address, which he enclosed in a short note 
to his sister : — 

" Dec. 24th, 1834. 

"My dear Friends, and Fellow-Chris- 
tians, — As I am called away from you at 
this season by what I humbly think and be- 
lieve to be my duty, I hope you will permit 
me to say a few words to you in this way 
about the cause and nature of that true joy 
with which we are invited now to rejoice. 
That there should be a rejoicing of some kind 
at this time is a settled, common understand- 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 115 

ing; but it may be questioned whether all 
who agree to this recollect and feel what 
ought to give rise to it. 

" I trust, however, that none of you will be 
among the number of the forgetful or indif- 
ferent. 

" For we know that our cause of joy is the 
introduction, as at this time, into the world 
of that glorious scheme of salvation for man, 
into which the angels desire to look : as at 
this time, our blessed Saviour was born in the 
flesh, and the Son of God assumed the in- 
firmity of man, though without his sin, to 
redeem men from the power of Satan and sin 
here, and from everlasting punishment here- 
after. Surely here is cause of joy ; but what 
sort of joy ? 

" The very nature of the unspeakable benefit 
conferred directs us at once to the reply. 
Shall we mock the Almighty God, our Sa- 
viour, by offering, as our tribute of thankfulness 
and adoration, that unhallowed and wicked joy 
which is hateful to Him ? Can we think trans- 
gression acceptable to Him who cannot look 
upon iniquity I Is the indulgence of carnal ap- 
petites agreeable to the law and will of that 
i 2 



116 LETTERS TO HIS 

most gracious Being, who gave His own Son to 
die for us, that He might deliver us from the 
yoke of these appetites ? Or, why did Christ 
come into the world, and suffer, and die, but 
that, by the free grace of God, He might 
thereby restore us to the forfeited favour of 
our Heavenly Father, and make us fit for 
the enjoyment of that only true happiness of 
which sin had deprived us, and which con- 
sisted in the love and the service of Him ? 

" I pray God, my dear friends, that He 
may enable each one of you to remember these 
things, and to consider, that, while He calls 
upon each one of you to rejoice, it is with a 
spiritual and heavenly joy, a joy unknown but 
to the children of God, which the world can 
neither give nor take away. 

" c Be not of a sad countenance,*' for we 
have, of all men, abundant reason to c shout 
for joy/ if we be the children of God ; but 
4 be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the 
devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking 
whom he may devour/ and putting c a stum- 
bling block and an occasion of falling ' in your 
way, even by means of those very things, 
which you consider, and which may be, if 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 117 

temperately used, perfectly innocent. God 
has not indeed forbidden a moderate and 
thankful use of the temporal good He be- 
stows ; but the true Christian draws but 
small pleasure from worldly sources, and 
cares but little for them ; and the nearer we 
are enabled to approach to this state of feel- 
ing, the closer do we draw to God. While 
therefore you are joyful, pray God that you 
may be truly and heartily thankful for the 
hope that makes you so ; let your joy be 
mingled with a 'godly sorrow" for the sin 
which brought your Redeemer from heaven to 
suffer upon earth ; remember the eternal 'joy 
that is set before you ;' and in all things 
4 watch and pray, lest ye enter into tempta- 
tion.' > May God of His infinite mercy bless 
and keep you and me, and all who are dear to 
us, and all His people ; may He unite us here 
in Christ ; and bring us to meet together at 
the last in the mansions of our Father's 
house ! Your sincere well-wisher, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

"My dearest Jemima, — I trust the above 
will answer our purpose. I am glad I have 



118 LETTERS TO HTS 

written here, if you get it in time, for I think 
it better than what I had begun at Erchless. 
I desire to thank God for his gracious assis- 
tance ; may He bless this admonition in your 
hands and may He strengthen you now, and 
make you eternally happy in Himself ! Pray 
to Him, my dear sister, and He will bless you 
for Christ's sake, 

" Ever your most affectionate brother, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm.*" 

" Pray for our dearest mother, for Duncan, 

and for me. 1 ' 

" Miss Chisholm, of Chisholm, 
&c. &c." 

Another letter then succeeds, expressing his 
anxiety to know how all things had passed 
off, and is as follows — 

" Moy Hall,— Dec. 27, 1834. 

" My dearest Jemima, — I hope you re- 
ceived the few lines I wrote for you to read in 
time on Christmas morning. The bearer was 
to be off at five, and with you by eight. I 
was very glad that I took it to Newton, for I 
had leisure there after dinner; and cannot 
compose in the bustle of departure. I sin- 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 119 

cerely hope and trust that you were blessed 
and strengthened on that day, and that your 
people were decent in their conduct, and seri- 
ously impressed. I intended, if possible, to 
have written to you from Inverness ; and I 
ought to have done so yesterday. I hope you 
will give me an account of your proceedings 
and success, and, if you will, of your own 
feelings. What can be to me more interest- 
ing than the Christian experience of a sister, 
whom I believe and trust to be under the 
teaching of God ? It will also be a lesson, 
and, I hope, a blessing to myself ; and I will 
try to make you acquainted with what I may 
feel. It is our duty to God, and to each 
other, so to communicate, for the manifesta- 
tion of His love and the promoting of His 
glory, and for the edification of each other. 

Lady Mackintosh continues to get on ; she 
was out in her chair yesterday, and I suppose 
will be to-day, it is so fine. 

" Ever your most affectionate brother, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm.*" 

" My mother's love." 

" Miss Chisholm, of Chisholm, 
Erchless Castle, Beauly." 



120 FAMILY WORSHIP. 

It is impossible not to be struck with the 
combination of excellent qualities which these 
letters set forth. Simplicity, devotion, filial 
reverence, brotherly love, thoughtfulness, vi- 
gilance, the most minute attention to details, — 
all these are conspicuous in them. And when 
it is considered, that such qualities were 
manifested in a young and ardent Highlander, 
whose every energy was quick and eager in 
the struggles of political strife — which, for 
the welfare of his country, and the sacred 
cause of truth, he felt it his duty to sustain, — 
it must be admitted that they present a rare 
and lovely picture of Christian zeal. 

The anxiety and precaution which he exer- 
cised, in the present instance, was not a mere 
transient or superficial feeling, but the work- 
ing of a firm consistent principle of piety within 
him. 

It was not only in the recurrence of holy 
seasons, marked by the special commemoration 
of God's mercies revealed in Jesus Christ, that 
he found an opportunity to address a word of 
warning, of counsel, of encouragement to 
those over whom he was set in authority, — 
but the morning and evening of each and 



FAMILY WORSHIP. 121 

every day saw him, in the midst of his house- 
hold, reading and expounding the Word of 
God, and offering up devout and faithful 
prayers with them, and for them, at the 
Throne of Grace. He began this hallowed 
practice in the year 1834 ; and evidences 
may be found, in some of the following letters, 
of his great anxiety to maintain the observ- 
ance of it by others, whenever he was called 
away from home. 

The writer of this Memoir has had frequent 
opportunities of conversing with friends and 
acquaintances of the Ohisholm, who, when 
they were guests at Erchless Castle, were 
present at the family worship which he there 
conducted ; and he has received from them all, 
— men of different tastes, pursuits, and stations, 
— uniform testimony to the earnest and chas- 
tened spirit of devotion which animated him. 
A heart, kindling with the love of those holy 
truths, which the grace of God had imparted 
to it, — a memory, stored from very boyhood 
with the richest treasures of Inspired Wisdom, 
— a tongue, giving faithful utterance to all 
these, and pouring forth, simply and fervently, 



122 FAMILY WORSHIP. 

the accents of supplication and of praise, — ■ 
such was the evidence, day by day, exhibited 
of the reality of that purifying and consoling 
hope which sustained his own spirit, and of 
his desire to make others partakers of his 
joy. To many who witnessed it, the writer 
believes that such a spectacle was not exhi- 
bited in vain. They had loved the Chisholm 
in the companionship of earlier years, and 
found that they were now drawn together in 
the bonds of a closer and more enduring 
brotherhood. They had gladly accepted the 
invitation of his hospitality and friendship, 
that — not only in the intelligence and cheer- 
fulness of his conversation, but also amid the 
beauties of the mountain scenery around him, 
its healthful sports, and bracing air, — they 
might be relieved from oppressive duties, and 
serious cares ; and they were led, by his 
counsel, and example, and prayer, to a 
" stronghold l " of refuge, which no distrac- 
tions of the world could pierce, — to a fountain 
of peace, whose waters were full, and ever 
flowing, and refreshing to the care-worn 

1 Zech. ix. 12. 



FAMILY WORSHIP. J 23 

pilgrim, as " a cloud of dew in the heat of 
harvest 2 ." 

It were impossible to calculate the amount 
of blessing, likely to be produced among the 
Chisholm's own people, by such a course of 
Christian faithfulness. We may say of it, as 
one of the most eloquent of Scotland's sons 
has said of kindred efforts, made years ago by 
Christian missionaries in the same country of 
the Highlands : c It is palpable, and near at 
hand. It lies within the compass of many a 
summer tour ; and tell me, ye children of 
fancy, who expatiate with a delighted eye 
over the wilds of our mountain scenery, if it 
be not a dearer and a worthier exercise still, 
to contemplate the habits of her once rugged 
and wandering population. What would they 
have been at this moment, had" such help 'been 
kept back from them ? The ferocity of their 
ancestors would have come down, unsoftened 
and unsubdued, to the existing generation. 
The darkening spirit of hostility would still 
have lowered upon us from the north ; and 
these plains, now so peaceful and happy, 
would have lain open to the fury of merciless 

2 Isai. xviii. 4. 



124 LETTERS TO HIS 

invaders. O ye soft and sentimental tra- 
vellers, who wander so securely over this ro- 
mantic land, you are right to choose the season 
when the angry elements of nature are asleep ! 
But what is it that has charmed to their long 
repose the more dreadful elements of human 
passion, and human injustice ? What is it 
that has quelled the boisterous spirit of her 
natives ? And while her torrents roar as 
fiercely, and her mountain brows look as 
grimly as ever, what is that which has thrown 
so softening an influence over the minds and 
manners of her living population 3 ? , 

The following letter, written by the Chis- 
holm from Gordon Castle to his sister, a few 
weeks before the occurrence of those events 
which have been already recorded, — when 
she was absent upon a visit at a short distance 
from home, — affords another similar illustra- 
tion of the writer's character : — 



3 Chalmers's Sermon on tt The Utility of Missions ascer- 
tained by Experience ;" preached before the Society in 
Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge (incorpo- 
rated by royal charter), at their anniversary meeting in 
Edinburgh, June 2nd, 1814. Works, Vol. xi. p. 233, 234. 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 125 

"Gordon Castle, Nov. 29, 1834. 

" My dearest Jemima. — I was much 
obliged to you for your notes, which I inten- 
ded to have answered ; at least one of them. 
How was it that I did not see you in Inver- 
ness on Tuesday ? I started by the coach at 
three o'clock. I expect, if I am spared, to 
be at Belladrum on Tuesday next; I shall 
leave this on Monday, but shall not arrive in 
Inverness till late in the evening. I shall 
also have something to do in the morning, so 
that I shall not be able to be with you till 
about the middle of the day. I am afraid my 
Mother must feel very lonely and dull this 
long time ; but she is so kind,, she does not 
like to leave home, in order that she may have 
the prayers regularly. I feel it a great blessing 
that we have been led by the Almighty to 
family worship ; there are few more effectual 
means in His hands of extending the know- 
ledge and love of the truth. 

" Pray give my kindest remembrances to all 
at Belladrum. 

"Ever your most attached brother, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" Miss Chisholm, of Chisholm, Belladrum, Beauly." 



126 LETTERS TO HIS 

The same feeling was still prominent in the 
Chisholm's mind, whithersoever he went, or in 
whatsoever duty he was engaged. The follow- 
ing brief note which he wrote to his sister from 
London, in the spring of 1835, shows that in 
the most hurried moments, he had time to 
think and to speak of holy things. 

"London, March 2$, 1835. 

" My dearest Jemima, — I wish I was 
with you to enjoy the spring ; we have beau- 
tiful weather here, but then it is in the midst 
of a smoke-drying town. 

" I am very glad you have asked Miss 
Chisholm to Erchless. Give her my warmest 
love. — You could not read to the servants a 
better book than Bridges on the 119th Psalm. 
I think you do quite right. I remember you 
each and all in my prayers ; may God bless 
you and those whom you are instructing. 
Milner's Sermons were recommended to me 
by Captain Gordon. I am very sorry to find 
that he is so ill ; he is at Leamington. He 
intends being in the North in the summer if 
he can. I will call on Mrs. Field if possible. 
I left in Edinburgh. Take a turn 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 127 

yourself at the plough in the lawn. I called 

on in Edinburgh ; she is still there. 

I am delighted that you have mounted and 
cantered Fraser. May God direct you in all 
your ways. 

" Believe me as ever, 
" Your most attached brother, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" I fear Ministers will be beat on Monday 
on the Irish Church question." 

" Miss Chisholm, of Chisholm, 
Erchless Castle, Beauly." 

Upon the failure of the petition in Parlia- 
ment against his return for the county of In- 
verness, and the consequent confirmation of 
his own election, he announced the event to 
his mother in the following terms. 

" London, July 4, 1835. 

" My dearest Mother, — I have just 
time to write to you a single line to say that 
the Committee have just decided in my favour, 
and that I am therefore, beyond farther 
question, the sitting member. I am sure that 
God has ordered this in His infinite wis- 
5 



128 LETTERS TO HIS 

dom, and if, as I humbly trust, I am to be 
made an instrument in His hands for His 
glory, I think I may look upon this result as 
a step in my progress in that most blessed 
career. To be sure He might have designed, 
and may still, to employ me in another sphere ; 
let us pray to be entirely resigned to His 
will. 

" The expense will not be so great as I had 
feared, since the investigation has ended more 
speedily than I had calculated upon ; but still 
it will come to a good deal. 

" Ever, my dearest Mother, 
" Your most dutiful and affectionate Son, 
•" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

The following letter, although of a later date, 
is inserted in this place, on account of the 
confirmation which it gives of the character 
exhibited in the preceding letters. 

" London, May 23, 1836. 

" My dearest Mother, — I am glad you 
commend my promptitude and exactness in 
answering your last questions. I shall always 
be very glad to answer them, and indeed no 
thanks to me, for they are all about my 



MOTHER AND SISTER. 129 

own business, and matters interesting to me. 
I like very much to hear all that is going on 
about the place, and by now and then asking 
the grieve, the gardener, the keeper, George, 
&c. you can, as you do, give me an excellent 
summary. Every thing is interesting to me. 
from ' Long Jock *' down to the humblest blade 
of grass, tares, or corn. Are the tares, by the 
by, sown, and the mangel wurzel ? 

" I am glad you were kind to Mr. Noble. 
We must indeed come to some conclusion 
about the Church. I hope Rose's wife is a 
good and nice person. 

" Jammie 2 had better, as you suggest, con- 
tinue with Rose for another quarter, and then 
we can make some arrangement about the 
nature of his future studies. I entirely ap- 
prove of the plan of having him as an assistant 
at your Sunday School. I am delighted you 
have determined to begin it ; it is an excellent 
way of doing much good, under the blessing 
of the blessed God. May his Holy Spirit 
preside over it, and direct you ! Study first 

1 A favourite horse. 

2 Jammie, a boy who was educated at his expense, uow 
doing well hi Australia. 

K 



130 LETTERS TO HIS MOTHER, &C. 

of all to set before your young scholars 
' Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Teach 
them their need of Him, and His fulness. It 
is through such teaching that the Holy Spirit- 
communicates His blessing. — There is nothing 
new here ; we are adjourned for ten days. 
What sort of weather have you ? Here it is 
very fine ; but sometimes rather cold. — I 
hope you continue in good health. Duncan 
is out. 

" Ever, my dearest Mother, 

" Your most affectionate Son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 



CHAPTER IX. 



VISIT TO STRATHPEFFER. — FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

The writer has thought it better that the 
character of the Ohisholm should speak for 
itself thus far in the records, public and pri- 
vate, which the preceding chapters have sup- 
plied, than that the course of the narrative 
should be interrupted by adverting to those 
circumstances which appear to have been, 
under God's grace, the instruments of impart- 
ing to it so much of Christian faithfulness and 
truth. Some of the most important and 
powerful of these, he believes to have been 
that course of careful, and consistent, and 
holy training, which, from earliest childhood, 
he received at the hands of his Mother and 
k 2 



132 VISIT TO 

Mr. Ollivant ; and, in the preceding chapters, 
he trusts, abundant testimony has been found 
to establish the truth of that opinion. His 
own personal and intimate knowledge of the 
Chisholm's character led him to such a con- 
clusion, long before he knew of the existence 
of any of those documents, or had received 
any of that information which now bear wit- 
ness to its correctness. And if, from the year 
1 828 to the year 1834, that is, from the nine- 
teenth to the twenty-fifth year of the Chis- 
holm's life, the writer had but few opportuni- 
ties of observing his progress, and is left to 
judge of it chiefly by the report of others, he 
apprehends that no information conveyed to 
him can disturb the grounds of the judgment 
already pronounced, that they who watched 
over his earlier years had taught him, with 
fidelity and zeal, the solemn vow, promise, 
and profession of his Christian calling, — had 
sought to make him, in accordance with it, a 
faithful soldier and servant of his Lord and 
Saviour, — and that a blessing had rested on 
their labours. 

It is perfectly true, that, for some portion 
of the time now referred to, he seems not to 



STRATHPEFFER. 133 

have sustained that high bearing of which his 
earlier years had given promise, and that mis- 
givings and disappointments were excited 
thereby in the hearts of many who loved him. 
The writer has in no way attempted to hide 
or palliate this truth. And, — whilst he grate- 
fully acknowledges the gracious hand of that 
heavenly Father who " delivered " the " soul " 
of his friend "from death, and" his "feet 
from falling, that" he might "walk before 
God in the light of the living 1 ," — he reads 
a lesson which he thinks it is profitable for 
man to learn, even in the very fact that the 
feet of that friend were suffered for a time 
to "stumble upon the dark mountains 2 " of 
worldly thoughts. For, if "the race" were 
always " to the swift," or " the battle to the 
strong 3 ," the creature would forget the Crea- 
tor, and the possessor of the gift the Giver. 
If no blight, or drought, or tempest were ever 
to mar the labours of the husbandman, he 
would lean only upon his own strength, and 
lose sight of his dependence upon Him who 
alone is Lord both of the seed-time and har- 
vest ; and, even so, the parent or instructor 
1 Ps. lvi. 13. 2 Jer.xiii. 16. 3 Eccles. ix. 11. 



134 VISIT TO 

of the child, — if, in every instance, the return 
made were in exact proportion to the care 
bestowed, if love were never requited by neg- 
lect, nor care by disobedience,— might deem 
that every thing was the inevitable result of 
his own foresight, and care, and watchfulness, 
and so be tempted to lose sight of the truth 
which the word of the Apostle has set forth, 
that, " neither is he that plant eth any thing, 
neither he that watereth ; but Grod that giv- 
eth the increase 4 ." The very check to that 
increase which He sometimes sees fit to ap- 
point, is a trial which humbles us, a trial of 
our " faith " which worketh patience 5 . But 
patience is not inertness, — it is not indif- 
ference; nay, the very faith which sustains 
patience, animates hope, renews exertion ; it 
bids us " not be weary in well doing, for in 
due season we shall reap if we faint not 6 ." 

Such feelings the writer believes existed 
in the hearts of those who best knew the 
Ohisholm, at a time when, to the casual ob- 
server, there may not have seemed prospect 
of the harvest being speedily reaped. That 

4 1 Cor. iii. 7. s j ames i. 3. 6 Gal. vi. 9. 



STRATHPEFFER. 135 

they were not without strong foundation, will 
have appeared, he trusts, from the slight 
sketch which he has been enabled to give of 
the subject of this Memoir. That they were 
realized, even more quickly and perfectly than 
his friends could have dared to hope for, is 
evident from the information which the last 
chapter has supplied. 

It was in the year 1834, that the evidence 
of this blessed result was made manifest in 
characters too plain and palpable to be mis- 
taken. Whatsoever holy thought, or word, 
or act, had before been his, might rather have 
been regarded as the shadow of the coming 
event than the fulness of the blessing itself; but 
from that time forward there was imparted to 
the mind of the Ohisholm an abiding reality, 
a deep fixedness of all that had been vague, 
uncertain, or transitory. He had gone, early 
in the spring of that year, for a short time to 
London ; and thence had repaired to Armagh, 
to visit his brother, who was upon the staff 
of his uncle, Major-General Sir James 
Macdonnell, at that time in command of the 
North District of Ireland. Upon his return 
home, the Ohisholm became very ill, and 



136 VISIT TO 

went, in the course of the same summer, to 
Strathpeffer to recruit his health. At that 
place — which is situated in Ross-shire, about 
three or four miles westward from Dingwall, 
and much resorted to, of late years, by inva- 
lids and others, on account of its mineral 
wells, — he became acquainted with Mr. Gor- 
don, late member for Dundalk. The acquain- 
tance soon ripened into intimate and sincere 
friendship ; and to be the friend of Mr. Gor- 
don was to be the friend of one, who, in every 
word and work of his, had a single eye to the 
glory of God. It was impossible that such an 
intercourse should be without its influence upon 
a mind like the Chisholm's, — trained, as it had 
been, to the reverential observance of Christian 
truth, — warm in its affections, — strong in its 
impulses, — and recognising the more eagerly, 
in the season of bodily sickness, the merciful 
hand of God. He was not a man to waver in 
his determination ; his frequent conversations, 
with Mr. Gordon, and other friends, upon 
the promises and obligations of the Gospel 
of Christ, — his renewed study of the Sacred 
Volume, — his earnest, unsparing self-examina- 
tion, — his fervent prayer, — these, making him 



STRATHPEFFER. 137 

to see the all-absorbing interest of that question 
which then pressed upon his soul, constrained 
him also to admit, without reserve or compro- 
mise, the obligations consequent upon them. 
Of course, the more perfect he acknowledged 
the standard of Christian holiness to be, and the 
more earnest were his supplications for grace 
to approach unto it, in the same degree was 
he bowed down with the sense of the un- 
worthy and partial spirit with which he felt 
that he had before regarded it. And it is no 
marvel, therefore, if, in the utterance of his 
ardent and impetuous feelings, he should have 
expressed himself in some of the following 
letters, as if he had never before been fully 
sensible of the greatness of God's redeeming 
love in Christ. 

The letters which are here selected, al- 
though written in different years, it has been 
thought well to bring forward at one view, 
because they are the best commentary upon 
the circumstances which have just been re- 
lated. They were written successively on the 
occasion of each returning birthday, after 
he had reached his twenty-fifth year. 

The first is to his sister, in answer to a 



J 38 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

letter which she had written to him on his 
twenty-sixth birth-day, and which on the 
following day he thus acknowledges. 

"Erchless Castle, Feb. 16th, 1835. 

"My dearest Jemima, — Many, many 
thanks for your very kind letter, which I re- 
ceived yesterday morning. I believe and know 
that I have, on this occasion, such cause of 
rejoicing as I have not had on any former 
birth-day. At least, the joy I certainly once 
had, had passed away, through the weakness 
and sinfulness of my nature, the hardness of 
my heart, and the temptations I met with ; 
and so much had those early impressions left 
me, that, if it had not been for the rich mercy 
of God, it would have been better for me 
never to have 'tasted of the heavenly gift.'' 
But, blessed be God, such was not His will, 
as I firmly believe. It was His good pleasure 
to call me, and choose me, though I was so 
rebellious ; and I strongly hope that I shall, 
through His mercy, be enabled to persevere 
unto the end. May He thus bless and keep 
you, my dear sister ; and He will do so, if 
you pray to Him. But let us ' rejoice with 
trembling.'' 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 139 

" My mother says you may go to Oaldu- 
thel ; but, except for that invitation, she 
would have sent for you sooner, as she is now 
anxious to see you. But she does not wish 
that to be the only place you do not go to, as 
you have been so long in the neighbourhood. 
The carriage will be in early on Thursday 
morning, and we hope to see you in good time 
to dinner on that day. 

" Mr. was in Inverness all the time 

since I left. I am very sorry that I did not 
even look at my letters yesterday before the 
post was gone, so I did not see your writing ; 
but I hope this will be in time. I am going 
to write again, perhaps. 

" Your most attached brother, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" Speak to about what we 

were talking of the day I was there last, our 
conversation on religious subjects, I mean, 
prayer, &c, and try what good God may en- 
able you to do. 

u Miss Chisholm of Chisholm, 
Inverness." 

In the next, which is written to his mother, 



140 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

he gratefully acknowledges the merciful deal- 
ings of God towards him in his earlier years, 
but still distinctly points to his visit to Strath- 
peffer, as the time in which he believed they 
were brought home, in all the fulness of their 
constraining obligation, to his heart. 

" London, Feb. 15th, 1836. 

My dearest Mother, — I do not feel 
myself able to write to you as I could wish, 
amid the distractions of this place and my occu- 
pation, sitting down, as* I am doing, on this 
the anniversary of my entrance into the world. 
I know well with how much delightful anxiety 
you must have been possessed about twenty- 
six years ago (for so much of my life has 
already past) ; and I know, moreover, to 
whom you were directed to pour out that 
joy and that anxiety in prayer. I believe 
that, in few instances, has God seen fit to 
permit the child of much prayer to be eventu- 
ally destroyed by the corruptions of his own 
nature^ and the delusions of Satan, but has 
sooner or later brought such an one to re- 
pentance and to life ; unless, indeed, there 
have been manifested, in such a being himself, 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 141 

a spirit of determined or reckless hostility to 
the truth. And though, in looking back upon 
my past life, I see with how much reason I 
am chargeable with the vilest ingratitude to 
the gracious and long-suffering God, and how 
fairly I have deserved His wrath ; yet can I 
trace occasional, and most evident, and 
strongly-marked instances of His gracious 
care and interference in my behalf, against 
my own sinful self, and of the strivings of His 
Holy Spirit with me. Oh ! that I may feel more 
and more how aggravated is my rebellion, to 
whom so many temporal and so many spiritual 
mercies and advantages have been afforded, 
how great is my un worthiness ; and that I 
may feel also, and know the wonderful and 
unspeakable love of God, who has, I hope, and 
trust, and believe, at length effectually called 
me through Jesus Christ, and overcome, by 
His awakening grace, that enmity of my de- 
praved heart which was never before destroyed. 
I trust I am not presumptuous in this, nor 
lightly assuming in such a matter. I think I 
do desire far more than I ever did, at any of 
the former periods of the strivings of the Holy 
Spirit with me, which I have spoken of, (if 



J 42 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

His, indeed, they were) — I think I do now 
desire far more to know Christ, as He is set 
forth in the blessed Gospel, to receive Him 
as my only and all-sufficient Saviour, and to 
'feed on Him in my heart by faith,'' and 
through Him to overcome c the pollutions 
that are in the world through lust," and the 
bitter enmity against God and spiritual things 
of my natural heart. Surely, if it be so now 
with me, it is not because the most holy God 
saw any thing in me to make me a fitting 
object of His mercy, except indeed that entire 
pollution, and that multitude of sins, which 
He permits, and exhorts us, in His unspeakable 
grace, to advance as a plea for mercy when we 
come to the Friend of sinners. 

"It is not from my college life, nor the 
greater part of my subsequent life, that I 
have been furnished with any other plea 
wherewith to approach that most holy God, 
; who charges even His angels with folly,' and 
before whom the childhood, which we call 
innocent, is stained with the corruption, and 
blighted with the curse of the fall. But 
thanks be to God, this plea, which I hope 
ever to be enabled, with true repentance and 

5 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 143 

godly sorrow, to advance, is the best of all, 
when so advanced with faith in His blood, 
who ' came to seek and to save that which 
was lost.*' I date the commencement of this 
calling of God from Strathpeffer ; no doubt 
all His providences have been tending to it, 
and many I might trace. 

u But I must now conclude this, the first 
birth-day letter I have been able to write to 
you, my dearest mother, wherein I could say 
that my heart was changed, as I do indeed 
hope I may now say. Oh ! that I may do 
so, ' rejoicing with trembling.' Before, I 
neither knew what this meant, nor inquired 
about it, nor sought after it ; neither could I. 
May God hear your prayers for me, and mine 
for you ; and may you and I, and Duncan, 
and Jemima, and all for whom we would pray, 
be brought to Christ, and everlasting life 
through Him. My warmest love to Jemima. 
" Ever, my dearest mother, 
" Your most affectionate and dutiful son, 
"Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" Lady Ramsay." 

The next is characterized by a similar train 
of thought : 



144 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

" London, Feb. 13th, 1837. 

" My dearest Mother^ — I am very sorry 
that this letter cannot reach you on the J 5th. 
I trust, however, that you will recollect that 
that day happens to be the one upon which 
there is no post from London. This I had 
myself forgotten, and was about to write 
yesterday. Had I remembered in time, I 
ought to have written on Saturday, as it 
would be better that you should receive the 
letter you expected on my birth-day a day 
before than a day after the time. I hope, 
however, that you will have recollected the 
day, and so not have been disappointed. 

" I have now, by the mercy of God, almost 
completed another year of my life here, and I 
have indeed reason to bless Him, though I 
desire to do so with all humility and fear, that 
His grace, as I believe, has been still with me, 
and that I do hope and trust that He hath 
given me well-grounded proof that He hath 
; begun a good work in me.' If it be so, He 
will, we know, assuredly carry it on, and keep 
me to the c day of Christ. ' 

" But how much reason have I to deplore 
my ingratitude, my heartlessness, my entire 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 145 

want of fixed godly resolution and endeavour 
to make ' my calling and election sure. ' I 
thank the Almighty God that He has indeed 
preserved me from the commission of gross, 
outward violations of His divine commands ; 
and of course, if this were not so, I could by 
no means believe myself a real subject of His 
converting grace. But I feel not that perfect 
hatred of sin, that sincere love of holiness, 
which necessarily leads to determined resist- 
ance of every kind and degree of the one, and 
energetic endeavours after the attainment of 
the other. I trust, my dearest mother, that 
you will pray for yourself, and for me, that 
we may be made partakers of that real and 
living faith, which is ever productive of, and 
which can never be evidenced but by steady 
perseverance in obedience. Let us pray that 
we may be delivered from a love of the world, 
in every sense, and be taught to use it without 
abusing it. 

" I have had a letter from Jemima, and am 
much vexed to find that you do not take care 
of yourself. You must get somewhere or 
other the little carriage of which she speaks, 

L 



146 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

and you must not confine yourself to the 
house, and neglect your health. 

" In the mean time you should every day go 
out for a couple of hours in the wheeled chair. 
" Give my warmest love to Jemima. May 
God bless you. — Ever, my dearest mother, 
" Your most dutiful son, 

"Alexander W. Chisholm." 

The next anniversary was the last which he 
was permitted to commemorate. He was at 
that time in better health than usual, and 
looked forward probably to many a future 
scene of usefulness ; — but the vision was not 
to be realized here. How doubly precious then 
is the following record of his faithful spirit ! 

"London, Feb. 15th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — In compliance 
with your wish I now sit down to write to 
you a few lines on this the anniversary of my 
birth. It has pleased the Almighty God to 
bring me safely through twenty-eight years 
of life, and, through this whole time, He has 
made His goodness to pass continually before 



FURTHER, CORRESPONDENCE. 147 

me. And yet I feel that I am t less than 
the least of all His mercies \ oh ! how much 
less than that unspeakable mercy by which, 
as I trust, I may without deceiving myself say, 
He has made me to know somewhat of His 
love in Christ Jesus. I pray, my dearest 
mother, that to you also He may by his Holy 
Spirit make known the same love ; that to 
both of us, and to those whom we especially 
love, He may give to know experimentally 
the fruits of a participation in that great sal- 
vation ; and that, with our sense of need and 
utter unworthiness, He may increase also our 
belief in the fulness and the freeness of that 
salvation which is offered to the needy and 
the worthless. 

" I pray, my own mother, that as that gra- 
cious God has so distinguished me in His 
favours by giving me so kind, so tried, so 
devoted, so watchfully anxious a parent ; as 
He mercifully put it into her heart in my first 
childhood to make me, so far as she could, 
acquainted with His holy word ; I pray that 
He may now more abundantly bless me by 
blessing you, and enriching you with all spi- 
ritual gifts in Christ Jesus; and that He 
l 2 



148 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

may grant that I should know in you one 
much more intimately connected by the indis- 
soluble union of being one with Christ, and 
that I should see you bringing forth many 
fruits of the seed of that Holy Word sown in 
your own heart. 

" May the Holy Spirit indeed open your 
understanding, my dearest mother, to under- 
stand spiritually those truths which almost 
twenty-eight years ago you began to teach me 
to lisp, though then, and for years afterwards, 
I was unable so to understand them ; if I do 
now at all. I trust this will find you in good 
health, as I thank God that I am. 
" I remain, my dearest mother, 
" Your most affectionate son, 

"Alexander W. Chisholm." 



CHAPTER X. 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS MOTHER. 

To those who have not realized to their own 
minds the extent and greatness of those frail- 
ties and corruptions, which bear witness unto 
them that their nature is fallen and sinful, — 
who see not, consequently, that the conven- 
tional language and usages of the world are, 
for the most part, so many contrivances to 
hide from them the real difficulties and dan- 
gers of the position in which they stand ; and 
that the purifying grace of God, — conveyed 
through His appointed public ordinances, or 
any other means whereby, amid the varied 
dispensations of His providence, He is pleased 
to address the hearts and consciences of His 
people, — is graciously vouchsafed, in order that 
from such difficulties they may be rescued, and 



150 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

over such dangers they may triumph ; — to 
such persons^ the language of some of the let- 
ters contained in the last chapter, may 
possibly seem exaggerated and overstrained. 
After making every allowance for the warmth 
of feeling which may fairly be expected to 
be kindled within the heart by the recur- 
rence, in each returning year, of the day of 
one's nativity, and for the unreserved expres- 
sion of that feeling in letters written upon 
such days from the child to his parent, they 
may still be unable to sympathize with the 
writer of the letters in all that has been 
written. And since it always happens, from 
the self-love of our nature, that, whenever 
there exists a want of sympathy with others, 
we gladly ascribe it, if we can, to some error 
or extravagance on their part, rather than to 
a deficiency on ours ; so, in the present in- 
stance, the writer thinks it very probable, 
that they who cannot enter into all the feel- 
ings of the Ohisholm, as expressed in these 
letters, may be ready to designate the feelings 
themselves as the result of overstrained and 
wild enthusiasm. If this should be their 
judgment j the writer can only express his 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 151 

earnest prayer that such enthusiasm may yet 
be theirs ; and that the solemn realities which 
awaken it, may put to shame and to confu- 
sion those vague, and cold, and unmeaning 
generalities, within which they now seek to 
entrench themselves. 

If, again, the reflection should occur to any 
one, as he reads either the preceding letters, 
or those which are to follow, that, in the ear- 
nestness of the Ohisholm's communications to 
his mother, the son appears on some occasions 
almost to assume the authority of the parent, 
and to become the teacher of one, by whom 
he himself was taught, — let it be remarked, 
that, whilst the sacredness of the theme upon 
which he so constantly wrote, and which was 
ever most vividly present to his mind, was so 
mighty as to absorb, for the time, every other 
consideration, and constrained him, thus once 
and again, to use " great plainness of speech 1 ,*" 
it never for one moment led him to overlook 
or violate the relations which still bound him 
to those who were dearest to him on earth. It 
purified rather, and exalted, every impulse of 
his natural affection. 

1 1 Cor. hi. 12. 



152 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

Passages are frequently to be met with in 
his letters which demonstrate the scrupulous 
and anxious care with which he regarded his 
mother's wishes and directions upon points 
even of the minutest interest. And, if the 
writer forbears to enumerate them all, it is only 
from the apprehension lest the recital might 
appear tedious to the general reader; and, 
assuredly they who now mourn for him, need no 
such testimony to remind them of their loss. 
He cannot refrain, however, from noticing a 
letter written by the Ohisholm in answer to 
one which he had received from his mother, 
on the subject of his going to visit his consti- 
tuents in Lochaber and Skye, in the autumn 
of 1835. She had pictured to herself, in the 
working of that anxiety, which only a mother's 
heart can know, the probability of his being 
led, at such a time, into company and scenes, 
not only prejudicial to his bodily health, but 
such also as might disturb, and harass, and 
put in jeopardy the settled order of his mental 
feelings and habits. Let the following letter 
bear witness to the spirit in which he received 
this word of warning : — 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 153 

" London, Aug. 3rd, 1835. 

" My dearest Mother, — I have this 
morning received your two most kind letters. 
Be assured that I feel both to be dictated, as 
I must well know all your counsel to be, by 
the purest, and warmest, and most well judg- 
ing affection. I shall not forget what you 
beg of me to remember. But I fear, that to 
refuse altogether to put the glass to my lips, 
would be taken as a slight which they would 
not easily get over. I know it is so. I shall, 
however, you may feel satisfied, be much on 
my guard, and remember all the reasons you 
give. I know that my worst opponent could 
not do me greater harm than to persuade me 
to excess. But I shall, I trust, continue to 
look for help to Him from whom alone cometh 
strength. I am sure your prayers for me to 
the throne of grace are constant. 

" May God preserve me from this sin, and 
every other ! I need not reply to your second 
most kind letter, that it is, I hope, impossible 
for me to feel angry with any advice that 
comes from so devoted and so affectionate a 
parent. In this case, at least, I can assure 



154 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

you, that I entertain any feeling rather than 
one of resentment, or even annoyance. For 
I know how much I need warning and admo- 
nition. If ever I have felt anger at what you 
in so much love have said to me, (as I know 
how prone I am to these hasty feelings,) it 
has been, I thank God, a transient passion ; 
though far be it from me to attempt, on this 
or any other ground, to justify it. 

" Macleod is now in town, and I fear will 
not return home for some time. 

" I shall undoubtedly pay my first visit to 
Sir Duncan : he is a most warm friend ; there 
is not one more so. I hope, too, I may per- 
suade him to come to Erchless. I fear his 
going about with me in Lochaber will be out 
of the question. 

" My dearest mother, 

" Your most affectionate son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

No traces are to be found of the expression 
of his feelings, whilst he was thus engaged 
in the canvass of the Western Islands, be- 
yond that which is contained in the annexed 
letter. 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 155 

" Newton Street, North Uist, Nov. 25, 1835. 

" My dearest Mother, 

" Here I am in the Long Island. I have 
been here nearly a week, and have been most 
favoured in regard to weather and every thing 
else. I have succeeded in getting through the 
most difficult part, namely, Harris, and we 
hope to return to Skye by the beginning of 
the week. The most difficult part of that 
island is also over, and the rest is plain sail- 
ing with good roads. I mean sailing on dryland. 

I desire to be thankful to God for His good- 
ness to me, so utterly undeserving as I am. 
May He bless and preserve you, my dearest 
mother, in soul and body ! 

" I hope to be at home early in December, 
though I fear not for long. I must finish the 
county now that I have begun, but what re- 
mains will be comparatively trifling, as there 
are good roads and no sea. 

" Pray for me, my dearest mother, that I 
may be preserved in every way, and led to 
seek the glory of God, and 6 his kingdom and 
righteousness.** 

" Your most affectionate son, 

"Alexander W. Chisholm." 



156 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

The remains of his correspondence in the 
year 1836, are very scanty ; but among them 
the following may be noticed as showing the 
unceasing devotedness of his mind to the con- 
templation of the " one thing needful ." 

* London, May 16, 1836. 

" My dearest Mother, — I will write to 
Jemima as soon as I can. We have beautiful 
weather here. Had I known that the Go- 
vernment intended, as they have done, to ad- 
journ for ten days, I might have stayed at home 
a little longer. There is nothing of great im- 
portance previous to the adjournment. You 
had better try and introduce with Jemima 
the habit of frequently conversing on religion, 
and, above all, on the peculiar and touching 
and elevating doctrines of the blessed and 
everlasting Gospel. These, as they are found 
simply stated in the Bible, are what we ought 
to know, and to study, and to speak of; and 
1 pray God that He may bless the obedience 
in this respect to His own command. For 
He has commanded that we should speak of 
them, ' when we sit in the house, and when 
we walk by the way ; when we lie down, and 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 157 

when we rise up,** c to our children 1 also, and 
to our friends. 

" Begin this gradually, and ask God for His 
blessing ; it will not only tend to create a 
feeling of affection and mutual confidence, 
such as ought to exist between a parent and 
a child, but it will induce meditation in your- 
self and her, for we cannot speak easily of that 
we do not often think of : and, besides, it is a 
positive duty to take all the care you can that 
she knows the real truth, and that you are 
yourself able to set it before her : and you 
should often and regularly pray together alone. 
May God Almighty bless you, my dearest 
mother, and her. 

" In haste, your ever dutiful son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

The next extract is one of the many evi- 
dences which are to be found throughout his 
letters, of the pleasure he felt in keeping up 
the friendships he had formed at Eton. 

June 3rd, 1836. 

" I am going down to Eton to-morrow 
(Saturday), the 4th of June, to stay with 
Coleridge. There is no house on Saturdays." 



158 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

Again, a few days afterwards, he thus 
writes to his mother. 

" London, June 13, 1836. 

" My dearest Mother, — I am very 
sorry that I have been so long in writing to 
you ; I do not know how it was, but I had 
nothing to say, and I was out of town at Eton 
for two or three days, and had been down at 
Dovor during the recess, for three or four be- 
fore that. 

" I was delighted to learn by one of your 
late letters that you were ' enjoying the fine 
weather and the beauties of the place more, 
much more, than you have enjoyed any thing 
of the kind for many years.'' I thank God for 
this His goodness, and I pray that He may con- 
tinue it to you, my dearest mother, and give 
you every spiritual blessing, and all needful tem- 
poral things, and cause you to rejoice in His 
mercy, and in reconciliation to Him through 
Christ. I wish indeed we were both with 
you to enjoy the beauties of Erchless, and to 
witness your enjoyment ; but you must not 
grudge yourself these things on account of 
our absence. I have invited Duncan down, 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 159 

and hope he may come ; but to do so, I fear 
he will have to give up the army ; for if he 
continues in it, he will have to go to Dublin 
about that time, and will not be able to get 
leave for a year. 

" I enjoyed my visit to Eton very much, 
and found Coleridge as warm and kind as 
ever. He is getting on very well. I think 
of going down again in about ten days, on a 
Saturday ; they asked me to go at any time. 

" I know how much you would have felt 
the melancholy death of the Duke of Gordon. 
I called several times to inquire for him, but 
was never able to see him. Indeed I did not 
know, till very shortly before his death, that 
he was dangerously ill. I believe he was 
aware of his danger ; but yet, when at in- 
tervals he felt better, his hopes of life seemed, 
I was told, to revive, and his spirits were, as 
usual, very good. I do not know how he was 
prepared for that great change ; I trust well ; 
and I am sure it would have been the anxious 
desire of the Duchess. I trust that it pleased 
God to bless the means. His complaint had 
been for many years in progress, but I do not 
know whether he knew this. If I can learn any 



160 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

particulars I will let you hear. The Duchess 
has gone north. The funeral was magnificent, 
several royal carriages attended, and his re- 
giment, or a great part of it, the 3rd Guards, 
or Scotch Fusiliers. God bless you, 

" My dearest mother, 

" Your most affectionate son, 
" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

The next extract serves to show not only 
the kindness of his character, which was at 
all times conspicuous, but also that minute 
attention which he rejoiced to bestow upon 
the details of any arrangement, whereby he 
thought the happiness of others might be 
promoted. 

"July 4th, 1836. 

" I think I should like you to ask 

and his friends to lunch at Erchless, 



on their way to Affaric. Will you, as you 
suggest, desire the keeper to go with them as 
far as they wish ? he knows the country quite 
well, and can be very useful to them. I should 
like you also to order the two boats, one on 
each Loch, to be in readiness for them, and 
the men to attend them, in case they may 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 161 

have any things to carry. They had better 
go by ' The Chisholm's Pass V a s it is very 

1 The following description of " The Chisholm's Pass" 
is taken from an article which appeared some years ago 
in the Inverness Herald : — 

" If the stranger to our present locality will pass his eye 
upon a map along the course of the river Beauly, from 
where it empties itself near the village of that name, at the 
head of Loch Beauly, (which is the inland terminating basin 
of the Moray Frith,) he will perceive that the river flows 
for about ten miles nearly from west to east, in one large 
stream ; that it then branches into two, one tributary 
coming down from Loch Monah through Glen Strathfarar, 
and the other being the natural water duct to the long 
narrow valley called Strathglass, or the gray Strath. The 
approach to the river Beauly from Inverness is through 
Lovat's country — the Aird. Afterwards, along the banks 
of the river, our route proceeds by the Falls of Kilmorack 
and the Drhuim, a reach of wooded rocky scenery, resem- 
bling the softest and most picturesque parts of Wales, and 
in some particulars quite Italian. On reaching the lofty 
rocky island of Aigas, the river is seen pouring down on 
either side of it in deep, dark, sluggish streams, which are 
in several places cut up into a second set of semicircular 
cataracts. Beyond these the Beauly, as far as Erchless 
Castle, is nearly as motionless as a lake, its waters being 
still and deep, and occupying what in fact was once an 
inland basin, to which the island, and the neighbouring 
ridges just mentioned, formed the lower barrier ere the 
present river's course had drained it. The traveller has 
now reached the true Alpine or Highland scenery, for 
sharp serrated ridges cross his course, and seem to forbid 
further advance ; the woody zone above is diminished in 
breadth and height, while the mountain summits shoot up 

M 



162 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

beautiful, and by far the easiest and best way. 
Let the keeper send word to Rory the forester 

far beyond — their whole detail of streams, precipices, and 
snow-covered corries, coming at the same time more dis- 
tinctly into view. One opening, however, little more than 
half a mile wide, stretches off in a right line before us for 
nearly twelve miles towards the south-west. It is Strath 
Glass — a valley, once famed as possessing one of the 
largest pine forests in the Highlands, but which has been 
all nearly cut down or burnt, and is now succeeded only 
by occasional clumps of birches and alders. Naturally it 
could only be looked upon as a long, narrow, pastoral 
Strath ; but the hand of man is now altering its appear- 
ance much, by bringing a great portion of it under the 
plough. From the sea to the inmost recesses of the coun- 
try, lines of watch hills or ancient beacon stations (some 
of them vitrified, and walled almost all round with im- 
mense rude heaps of stones) present themselves in succes- 
sion on the protruding ridges of the hills. One of these 
ancient structures appears very conspicuous towards the 
head of the Strath, where it occupies a somewhat tabular 
summit rising above a long wooded ridge, which seems to 
stretch across and commands a full view of the valley 
below for many miles. This is Knockfin or Fingal's hill, 
along the slope of which the old footpath to Loch Benevian, 
and the western districts of Kintail, ascended. Along its 
base the river Glass comes tumbling down from its parent 
lake just named, and enters Strath Glass on the west side, 
at a very sharp angle. The river's course thus far is only 
five or six miles long, being over a highly inclined plain, 
and it is this side ascent, branching off from Strathglass 
(between the bridges of Fasnakyle and Knockfin) which 
is most appropriately called e the Chisholm's Pass.' Dis- 
tinctly to comprehend its characters our readers are to be 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 163 

to be ready himself, and to be sure to have 
plenty of men to row the boats. As to sleep- 
informed that hereabouts (upwards of thirty miles from 
the sea) a great central group of mountains occur, spring- 
ing from a rough table land or base, far above the ordinary 
level of the country, and containing within their arms a 
series of lakes highly elevated, and communicating by 
rapid streams with one another. They occupy the whole 
interior portions of Inverness and Ross-shires, and from 
these central masses the land falls suddenly, on both sides 
of the island, in lower separate chains of hills. The Chis- 
holm's Pass is one of the connecting outlets between the 
higher cluster of mountains, and the sub-alpine ridges 
which skirt Strathglass ; and no doubt an immense flood 
of waters, from the upper chain of lakes, at one time 
poured down along its rocky slopes. These in many a 
winding turn, and at a very considerable expense, have 
now been surmounted by an excellent carriage road, made 
partly as a pleasure drive, to open up the scenery to view, 
and partly for the convenience of the Chisholm's Highland 
tenants, who use it to convey the produce of their great 
sheep farms, which extend over his section — and an im- 
mense one it is — of the inland mountains. For about two 
miles the road ascends the acclivity on the east, or north 
side of the river, and opposite to Knockfin. Dense woods 
of birch confine the view, except at occasional turns, where 
the lowlands on the one hand are seen receding far away 
in dim dark perspective ; while before us the ridges of the 
mountains are shooting up higher, barer, and rougher, as 
we advance. 

" On surmounting the highest part of the road, a tole- 
rably level plain extends before us, and is afterwards 
found to continue to the edge of Loch Benevian. It is 
traversed by several ridges of rough rocky knolls rising 

M 2 



164 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

ing accommodation, you can tell them of the 
comforts of Affaric. 

" I gave Selby 2 your message. My warmest 
love to Jemima, whose commission I will exe- 
cute, and to whom I will write. God bless 
you! 

" Ever, my dearest mother, 
" Your most affectionate son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

one above another, (very similar to the celebrated rocky 
bounds of the Trosachs or Loch Katrine,) and all 
fringed with rows and masses of native pine trees, which 
are widely separated from each other, and therefore ex- 
ceedingly picturesque in their forms. Beyond and above 
all these, in the distance, new groups of high blue moun- 
tains burst on the sight, almost all of them sharply peaked 
and serrated, and all streaked with long patches of snow. 
From such a view the eye, under ordinary circumstances, 
could not readily be diverted. But the scene nearer at 
hand, if not so imposing and grand, is exceedingly attrac- 
tive from its extreme beauty. 

"Below the road, the river Glass foams and chafes 
through a hard rocky bed, and for the space of upwards of 
a mile before us, it seems one continued white rapid, which 
in several places is broken into distinct cascades of from 
twenty to forty feet high. These constitute the falls of 
the Glass." 

2 His faithful servant who was charged to write home 
reports of his master's health, whenever he was himself 
prevented from doing so, 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 165 

In the month of January 1837, the Chisholm 
had left Erchless for the purpose of attending 
the banquet which was given at Glasgow in 
honour of Sir Robert Peel, on the occasion of 
his inauguration to the office of Lord Rector of 
that University, but was prevented from accom- 
plishing his object by a violent attack of influ- 
enza which detained him on his way at Perth. 
During his illness he wrote thus to his mother, 
who was herself laid up at the same time. 

" Perth, Jan. 20th, 1837. 

" My dearest Mother, — Many thanks 
for your kind letter of the 18th which I have 
this day received. You may be sure that I 
longed much that it could be possible to have 
you with me when I was laid up : — how could 
it have been otherwise ? But to have actually 
wished you to come such a journey, at this 
time of year, during the prevalence every 
where of such a complaint, would have shown 
a degree of blind selfishness not to be con- 
ceived. 

" The characteristic effect of this complaint 
is great weakness ; — do not therefore, I pray 
you, be exciting yourself; there can be no 



166 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE 

occasion : and you must keep quiet. Mind 
also most carefully to avoid all exposure to 
cold till the end of May or June. Tell me 
that you will do this ; and may God sanctify 
to us all even this little trial. Pray have 
family worship in the dining room 1 . Mind 
this. God bless you ! 

" Ever your most affectionate son, 

" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

The distress which existed in the Highlands 
and Islands of Scotland, in the spring of the 
same year, and which drew forth so promptly 
the sympathy and support of Englishmen, 
awakened, as might have been expected, in 
the Chisholm, every impulse of kindly affec- 
tion and active zeal ; and they who bore a 
part in the same work must well remember it. 
It is thus hastily noticed in one of his letters : 

" London, March 6th, 1837. 
" My dearest Mother, — I think, please 
God, of going down to Eton again next Sa- 
turday, if I can get away in time from a meet- 

1 This direction probably was given because that room 
was less exposed to cold than the hall in which the house- 
hold usually assembled for family worship. 



WITH HIS MOTHER. 167 

ing, which is to take place here on that day, 
for the benefit of the poor in the Highlands 
and Islands. v 

At the time he wrote these hurried lines, 
he had been, and still was, suffering from ill- 
ness. Exaggerated accounts of his indis- 
position had reached his mother, and, in the 
following letter, he endeavours to alleviate her 
anxiety : 

" London, March 10th, 1837. 

"My dearest Mother, — I hasten to 
relieve your anxiety, which seems to be so 
great, about my health. 

" What you have heard in regard to the 
extreme danger in which I am said to have 
been, is quite a mistake, unless I am greatly 
mistaken. At least I have never heard this 
hinted at by any one ; nor had I the least idea 
of such a thing myself. Indeed I think this 
is altogether a mistake. I certainly was bled, 
but not within an inch of my life. I did not 
faint, nor feel the weakening effect of it, in 
any great degree ; and it relieved at once the 
fever, which was not after all so very high. 
Perhaps the bleeding might have been rather 



168 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

injudicious, and unnecessary, since it is not a 
course generally adopted in the treatment of 
this complaint. I had nothing like inflamma- 
tion ; at least the doctor never seemed to think 
so, and I felt nothing like it. 

" I have not yet once looked at the 
papers or monthly reports, except the cur- 
sory glance I gave when I first received them. 
Indeed I have not found time. You may 
depend upon my taking plenty of exer- 
cise. I am obliged to do so on account 
of the distance, and because my lodgings 
(being near Hanover Square) are some way 
from the House. T trust, therefore, you will 
not allow yourself to be so uneasy about my 
health. Even had I been in danger, which I 
do not in the least conceive, (though God 
knows,) I have at all events reason to be 
thankful that I am now quite restored, and 
nearly as strong as ever. I often walk about 
without fatigue, for 7 three or four hours in the 
day at least. I trust and pray (and I am 
sure you do the same) that the merciful God, 
and our Father in Jesus Christ, may bless 
and sanctify to us all our several trials and 
His dispensations towards us, and not suffer 



WiTH HIS MOTHER. 169 

us to forget, in health, the lessons which sick- 
ness was intended to convey. 

" I have not told you Pennington's opinion 
of my health, for I have not ascertained it 
from him* But I will do this, and let you 
know. He only told me, when he was kind 
enough to call and see me, that my pulse was 
rather c shabby ;' but I find myself the better 
of taking a little more wine than usual. My 
love to Jemima. 

" Ever, my dearest mother, 

" Your most affectionate son, 
" Alexander W. Chisholm." 

During the Easter recess he had eagerly 
returned home, and, upon returning to his 
Parliamentary duties, he thus wrote to his 
mother : 

" London, April 26th, 1837. 

" My dearest Mother, — You will get a 
letter from Selby by this post, to mention my 
safe arrival, for which I thank God. 

" What did you think of my change of 
plans ? I went out to call at Culloden on the 
Thursday, where there were many very kind 
inquiries for you. 



170 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

" I dined with Mr. Clark, and came south 
with Muirton and Glenmoriston in the coach ; 
and then we posted on together from Perth 
with Baillie, who was also in the coach, to 
Edinburgh, as the mail was full. I dined with 
Applecross on Saturday in Edinburgh, by an 
invitation received in Inverness, and went out 
to pass Sunday afternoon and night with 
Charles Forbes. Thence I started on the 
Monday morning by mail, and arrived here 
this morning. They are all here in great glee 
about our success in Ross-shire. I trust and 
pray that we may not be led away, in these 
our triumphs, from the only true and safe 
ground of political, as well as every other 
exertion, the obedience, the love, and fear of 
God. These only can make us ultimately 
successful in any thing worth contending for. 
" In haste, your most dutiful son, 

"A. W. Chisholm." 



CHAPTER XI. 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. — HIS BROTHER LEAVES ENGLAND 
FOR CANADA. 

In the year 1838, the last of his brief life, the 
Ohisholm is still found, as heretofore, giving 
his energies, enfeebled as they were by illness, 
to the service of his country, and offering up 
the earnest aspirations of his faithful spirit for 
the welfare of his home and kindred. 

* London, Jan. 23rd, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I have received 
your letter of the 1 6th. I pray God that He 
may cause all the dealings of his wise and 
good Providence towards you to work your 
souFs health ; for you know that to those who 
love and trust in Him, He makes c all things 
work together for our good.** The privilege 
of Christ's people is to rest assured that every 



172 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

single thing which happens to them, and even 
in the world at large, is directed by Him who 
has all things in His hand, and whose leading 
design in the government and management of 
this world is to ' make His chosen people 
joyful,"' and to make them perfect. The rea- 
son why the people of God fail to experience 
all the reality of such an assurance is just 
that they do not in fact believe the fulness of 
the mercy of God, and they do not there- 
fore live up to their privileges. They stand 
in their own light, because they will not really 
take from the hand of their heavenly Father 
the free gift of His love and goodness, which 
He is day by day holding out before their 
very eyes. Read, my dearest mother, in the 
first or second Epistle to the Corinthians (the 
third chapter, I think), what the Apostle says 
of the extent of the possessions of those who 
are i Christ's.' 1 They are called upon to con- 
sider c all things' as theirs. Let us therefore 
pray to so great a Benefactor, that He would 
give us the Holy Spirit of grace to teach us 
what use we should make of such vast posses- 
sions. 

" I am at present staying with the Gordons. 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 173 

I am thankful to say that I am much better. I 
am very glad you continue to walk every day ; 
I hope you will still do so. You will see by 
my letter from Edinburgh that I have written 
to some ministers. I wish, however, that 
you would for the future communicate with 
Mr. Clark on this subject. He will suggest 
to you three or four ministers at a time, to 
whom you might write in my name, as at this 
distance I fear my failing to provide a regular 
supply. As Mr. Clark has so much to do, it 
will be far better for you to write, getting 
from time to time a relay of names from him. 
Do you think so ? Give my warmest love to 
Jemima. May God bless you and her for 
Jesus' sake ! 

" Ever your most affectionate son, 
" A. W. Chtsholm." 

The arrangements which, in the above 
letter, the Chisholm requested might be made 
for the regular performance of divine service, 
were with a reference to a Church which he had 
built, at his own sole expense, near Erchless 
Castle. It had been opened towards the end 
of October, 1837, by his friend the Reverend 



174 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

Alexander Clark, one of the Parochial Clergy 
of Inverness, who preached on the occasion, 
both in Gaelic and English, to numerous and 
attentive audiences. The district, for whose 
benefit the Church was built, forms part of 
the extensive country of Strathglass, which, 
with one or two adjoining Straths, had not 
enjoyed, for many generations, the regular 
services of any Protestant pastor, but had 
been only visited — alternately with two other 
stations, very distant from each other — by 
one of the Missionaries employed by the Com- 
mittee of the Royal Bounty. Such services, 
however faithfully and zealously performed, 
could not of course adequately supply the spi- 
ritual wants of the people scattered through- 
out the district ; and hence, the Chisholm's 
effort to atone in some degree for this defect, 
by raising up a House of Prayer in the midst 
of them, was a boon for which they might 
well be thankful. 

The next extracts from his correspondence 
are from various letters to his mother and 
sister : 

" Jan. 24th, 1838. 

" Duncan is quite well. His battalion is 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 175 

ordered for Canada, but the rebels there have 
just been so completely defeated, that perhaps 
the troops may not be sent out after all. 
Remember only that we are all in the hands 
of a most wise and merciful Father." 

"Jan. 29th, 1838. 

" Have you written to Mr. Clark about the 
supply of Ministers for the Church ? 

" Duncan breakfasted with me this morn- 
ing, and seems quite well. He has plenty to 
do at present, He seems to stand very high 
as an officer. He has been much urged by 
my uncle to become his aide-de-camp in Ca- 
nada, which in point of emolument would be 
advantageous to him; but he has a strong 
feeling against giving up the adjutancy of his 
regiment, which was given him in the most 
complimentary manner. He has asked the 
opinion of others, and I did not like to urge 
him to any thing, as his ow T n honourable feel- 
ings and views will guide him better in such a 
matter." 

It is evident from the train of thought ex- 
pressed in the letter which next follows, that 
the prospect of his brother's going upon active 

5 



176 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

service had led the Chisholm more carefully to 
consider the real merits of the question, which 
had often before presented itself to his mind, 
as to the lawfulness of a Christian being en- 
gaged in the profession of arms. He thus 
states the result of his reflections upon this 
subject. 

| " London, Feb. 1, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I am thankful 
to say that I am to-day much better, nearly 
well, though I keep from the House of Com- 
mons as a matter of prudence. I trust you 
do not feel any ill effects from the cold. Have 
you any symptoms of thaw yet ? or does the 
snow continue ? How do the evergreens look I 
I shall attend immediately to your wish about 
the Bible for Duncan, and I think I had bet- 
ter just show him your line to me. It will 
express much better to him your wishes and 
hopes in regard to him. I do indeed fervently 
join with you, my dearest mother, in praying 
that the ' God of battles,' the Almighty Grod, 
may shield and protect dear Duncan. Pray 
for me, my own mother, that that same gra- 
cious Grod may give me a c mouth and wisdom' 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 177 

to speak simply, and earnestly, and in the 
spirit of love to ray dear brother. I will think 
which may be best, and which Duncan could 
prefer, my writing, or his writing himself your 
name, and his own, in the Bible. 

" I heard from the other day, 

(who I am sorry to say is far from well,) a 
very interesting story about a Serjeant^ who 
gives an account of his own feelings in the 
very midst of an action, he having been, to all 
appearance, brought by the powerful grace of 
God under the influence of the truth. He 
acted with consummate coolness and courage, 
and often gave private utterance to prayer in 
the midst of the hottest engagement. 

" There is nothing at all like a necessary 
excitement of violent, far less of savage, feel- 
ing, I believe, in the performance of your duty 
as a soldier. A Christian man, I do indeed 
believe, if he engages thus conscientiously in 
the service of his country, (and if he be at all 
in the army, he is of course liable as a part of 
obedience, to fight should he be called on,) a 
Christian man may, I think, in such circum- 
stances, enter battle without forfeiting or dis- 
turbing 'the peace that passeth all under- 



178 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

standing ' within, the effect of the establish- 
ment of that ' kingdom of God ' which the 
blessed Jesus tells His people is ' within' them. 
See Luke 17th, 20th and 21st verses. That 
war and battle may be justly entered on, and 
that justice even may require them to be en- 
tered on, by a country, forms a part of the de- 
velopment of the providence of the All -wise, 
4 the only wise God ;' and since a Christian 
may serve his country as a soldier, he may do 
so in fighting the just battles of his country. 
Yet it cannot be denied, that even a just war 
is a source of unspeakable evil and misery; 
and of course the workings of God's providence 
can be no excuse in this, more than in any 
other evil, for those who sinfully cause it. And 
as for the enemies of God, (which means all 
but His reconciled friends,) if they fall in bat- 
tle, it is of no consequence as regards their 
state, that they should be cut off in this 
rather than in any other way. The result of the 
whole is, let the servant of God set himself 
at all times with prayer, watchfulness, and 
diligence to learn and to do the will of God, 
and leave the disposal of himself and his affairs 
to the good providence of Him ' who so loved 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. ] 79 

the world that He gave his only begotten Son 
to die for it. 1 But, my dearest mother, do not 
be satisfied with what I now write, unless you 
think it to be according to the word of God. 
Search that word, and may the Holy Spirit 
teach you. I once thought that battle must 
of necessity unchristianize a man : I do not 
think so now : it is not like sinful private 
quarrels and fighting, and need involve no ex- 
ercise, as I believe, of bad or malignant pas- 
sions, — that is, battle in the just service of 

one's country. Our good friend 

and the story of the pious serjeant have led 
me to this idea. May God bless you, my 
own mother ! Love to Jemima. 

" Your most affectionate son, 

" A. Chisholm." 

In the next letter, the Ohisholm speaks of 
his intention to visit one of his most intimate 
and valuable friends, Mr. Hamilton, Fellow 
of Trinity College, Cambridge, who was 
then residing with his father, Archdeacon 
Hamilton, at Loughton, in Essex. The sub- 
sequent departure of Mr. Hamilton for Aus- 
tralia has prevented the writer of this Memoir, 
n 2 



180 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

much to his regret, from learning many 
important particulars, which he could have 
given, of the character of their mutual friend. 

« London, Feb. 3rd, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I bless God 
for your delightful letter of the 26th. I only 
received it last night having been out of town 
for two days on a visit to Blackstone, who had 
often asked me to visit him. I had never 
been there before. I am sorry that you have 
not had a letter for a day or two, but I trust 
that my last accounts of my health will have 
saved you from anxiety. I shall indeed pray 
to God, my dearest mother, that He, by his 
Holy Spirit, may c open the eyes of your under- 
standing to understand the Scriptures,'' and 
that He may bring you under the 'power 
of godliness ;' and I also pray that He may 
enable me to write to you on these subjects, 
as also you to me. I have promised to go to- 
day, being Saturday, to stay till Monday with 
Hamilton, whose father is a clergyman in 
Essex. I am rather in a hurry therefore. I 
trust that you are quite well in health. Pray 
for me, my own mother, and let us ever bear 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 181 

in mind the exhortation, ; Pray without ceas- 
ing.' May the God of all goodness bless you 
now and throughout eternity, my dearest 
mother ! Love to Jemima. 

66 Your most affectionate son. 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

The following letters, written in the same 
month, still show the earnestness and con- 
stant direction of his thoughts towards home 
and those connected with it. 

< London, Feb. 6th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I went as you 
know to visit Blackstone for a day ; and then, 
on my return, to Hamilton's father's, whence 
after spending Sunday there, I returned yes- 
terday. You asked me to send you a scroll 
of what you should write to the ministers, 
asking them to preach at Erchless; but I 
think you will do this fully as well yourself 
as I could. You need merely say that in my 
absence and in my name, (as the Parish Mi- 
nister's permission was given to me,) you re- 
quest them to preach on such a Sabbath, 
and to dine on the Saturday preceding. 



182 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

"I am very happy that you are making 
warm clothing for the poor. May God grant 
that we may abound in marks of love to all 
men, and especially to the poor ; and that we 
may do this for His sake " who, though He 
was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we, 
through His poverty might be rich." I highly 
approve of your plans about the singing. 

" My love to Jemima. Duncan is quite 
well. The General has gone to Edinburgh 
on his way to Ireland, where he will remain 
a short time before returning to London. 
Would you not say something about his going 
on to see you before he goes to Canada? 
Though I fear he could not manage to go so 
far. May Almighty God ever bless and di- 
rect you, my dearest mother, for the Lord 
Jesus 1 sake ! 

" Your most affectionate Son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

" Lady Ramsay, 
" &c. &c." 

" London, Feb. 13th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I continue, 
thank God, quite well. I hope you are so 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 183 

too, and that you have not suffered seriously 
from the cold. How is the weather now with 
you ? 

" I was very much delighted at your mak- 
ing the warm clothing and sending some to 
John Chisholm's mother and sisters. I fear 
the meal to those poor people has not been 
regularly sent ; will you enquire of the grieve 
and let the deficiency be made up and the 
supply be sent monthly in future ? They can 
almost always find some conveyance going up 
the North about the time. 

" I am very sorry to hear such poor ac- 
counts of the forester's wife. I hope she is 
better now. Have you heard how she feels in 
the view of death ? I pray that God may be 
merciful to her soul, and that He may bless 
to her husband and family the dealings of His 
wise Providence. I am glad you sent as soon 
as you could for the minister. 

" I think you have done quite right in 
allowing Jemima to spend a little time at this 
dreary season with her friends ; particularly 
since you say you do not mind being alone. 
I think you must sometimes feel rather dull 
too, at this time of year. I am very thankful 



184 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

that you are enabled to read at prayers with- 
out fatigue or difficulty. I will be careful 
about cold ; I do not think I shall be likely 
to go out of town again for some time. 

" Thank you for the Sunderland Paper : I 
have not read, but shall read Sir James Gra- 
ham's speech. 

" May the Almighty God bless you, my 
dearest mother, and direct you for Christ's 
sake, by the Holy Spirit ! 

" Ever your most affectionate Son, 

"A. W. Chisholm." 

" Lady Ramsay, 
"&c. &c." 

Meanwhile, the departure of his brother for 
Canada, to the prospect of which allusion has 
been already made in the foregoing letters, 
drew nigh; and he thus notices the event 
in the following letter : 

" London, April 5th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I shall write 
you all that I can about Duncan ; in the mean 
time I may tell you that we parted cheerfully, 
and why should we do otherwise, when we look 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 185 

to the gracious and omnipresent God, who or- 
ders all things for our good? — though of course 
we cannot, neither are we expected, to re- 
strain all feelings of sorrow on such occasions. 
These feelings indeed themselves are among 
the means of promoting our good, if not un- 
lawfully, excessively, nor repiningly and doubt- 
fully indulged. 

" I have not however, as I trust, seen Dun- 
can yet for the last time before he sails for 
Canada ; I expect to see him in town again 
this week from Winchester, and I think of 
going down for a part of the Easter Holidays, 
God willing, to stay with him, and perhaps 
to see him embark ; unless indeed this should 
seem likely to cost him and me, more pain 
than needful, and than we should experience, 
by parting before he embarks. But, at all 
events, I look forward to seeing him for a few 
days ; and I shall try to speak to him, as I 
know you would wish. Pray for us both, my 
dearest mother, that I may be enabled to 
speak, and he to hear, aright. God bless you 
and Jemima. — Ever, my dearest mother, 
" Your most affectionate son, 

"A. W. Chisholm." 



186 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

In the week following, he writes upon the 
same subject : 

"Staines, April 14, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I am here on 
my way to Winchester ; but as I have been 
thinking that it might be wiser to employ the 
Easter holidays in taking Jephson's advice, so 
as, by God's blessing, to recover my health 
thoroughly, than to go and see Duncan em- 
bark, which is so much more painful a thing 
than to part more gradually, I have just come 
to the resolution of going from this to Salt- 
Hill where, as to-day is Saturday, I may stop 
till Monday, and I can then get on by coach 
through Oxford to Leamington. I am quite 
sick of London, and indeed it would not take 
much to make me give up Parliament alto- 
gether. Though a great deal better than 
when I was at home, thank God, I yet do not 
feel quite restored ; and I think you would 
wish me to see Jephson now rather than put 
it off. Selby is coming back to me, and I 
take him with me. He has a sister living 
here, and so he came down when I did, the 
day before yesterday, to see her. He goes to 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 187 

London to-day to get his things, and follows 
me to Leamington, or wherever I may go. 

" I think you will be pleased at this. My 
love to Jemima. I hope she and you are quite 
well. May God Almighty bless and preserve 
you, and bring us together again in peace, 
that we may witness in each other the fruits 
of His converting grace, for the Lord our 
Righteousness' sake ! My dearest mother, 
" Ever your most affectionate son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

The intention which he expressed in the 
above letter was however abandoned, for he 
could not refrain from seeing his brother 
once more. 

"Portsmouth, April 18, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — After all I 
have come here, and had the satisfaction of 
seeing Duncan before he sailed, which he did 
this day. He seemed in very good spirits, and 
indeed his constant employment as adjutant 
will of course prevent him from feeling regret 
to the same extent. When he gets fairly out 
at sea he may possibly feel a little more the 



188 FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 

separation from us all. However it cannot 
but be some comfort to him that my uncle 
goes at the same time. I saw him here, and 
he looks very well. May God preserve them 
both, and bring them back, if it please Him, 
in peace ! 

" I trust, my dearest mother, you continue 
well. I hope you do not forget your promise 
of regular exercise; pray attend to this. 
Give my warmest love to Jemima, I wish 
you would tell me what you think of my giving 
up Parliament. I seriously think of doing so ; 
but say nothing about it, even to Jemima. 
To-morrow, please God, I go to Leamington ; 
but I cannot stay there long enough to have 
an answer to this from you while there, so you 
may direct to London. May God bless you 
and Jemima, my dearest mother. 

" I cannot tell you much by letter respecting 
my parting with Duncan, as there was no- 
thing sufficiently marked to tell, otherwise 
than in conversation. — Ever, my own mother, 
" Your most affectionate son, 

"A. W. Chisholm." 

The last extract which shall be given from 



FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE. 189 

this portion of his correspondence exhibits 
another touching instance of his love for 
home and kindred. It occurs in a letter to 
his mother, dated the twelfth of May. 

-" I thank you for the violets ; they 

have suffered a little in their fragrance, but 
perhaps a little water may refresh them ; I 
shall try. They look very beautiful, and I 
prize them as the gift of your kindness and 
affection, and because they recall Erchless to 
me." 



CHAPTER XII. 



CONDUCT IN PARLIAMENT. — ELECTED A SECOND TIME MEM- 
BER FOR THE COUNTY OF INVERNESS. LETTERS FROM 

LEAMINGTON. RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 

The Ohisholm did not take any prominent 
part in the debates of the House of Commons. 
The principles, which he sought to advocate, 
being put forth, with all the clearness and 
authority which human eloquence could give, 
— by those whose situation, in the House and 
country, required that they should give them 
utterance, — his duty rather was, by diligent 
attendance and support, to give effect to opin- 
ions so expressed, than to weaken them by 
the needless repetition of his own. The only 



CONDUCT IN PARLIAMENT. 191 

occasions of general interest, on which he ap- 
pears to have presented himself to the notice 
of the House, during the first Parliament in 
which he had the honour to sit, were in the 
discussion which took place in Committee, on 
the twelfth of July, 1836, on the resolution 
that no clergyman should be appointed to any 
see or benefice in the Principality of Wales, 
who was not fully conversant with the Welsh 
language ; and again, on the eighth of August 
in the same year, in the debate on the Irish 
Education Bill. He appears also to have been 
forward, in the various discussions which took 
place in May 1837, on the Glasgow, Paisley, 
and Ayr Eailway Bill, touching certain clauses 
with regard to travelling on the Lord's Day ; 
and to have advocated, uniformly and zealously, 
on behalf of his countrymen, the preservation 
of all those habits and feelings which, in Scot- 
land, mark so strongly the observance of that 
day. With respect to his advocacy of the 
resolution, that no clergyman should be ap- 
pointed to any see or benefice who was not 
fully conversant with the Welsh language, it 
may be observed, that his views were not in 
accordance with those of the majority of his 



192 CONDUCT IN PARLIAMENT. 

own political friends, but, — as he said both in 
the House at the time, and afterwards upon 
the hustings, — he was led to adopt and to 
adhere to them, from the conviction, which his 
knowledge of the Scottish Highlanders had 
forced upon his mind, of the necessity of such 
a provision. It was absolutely necessary, in 
their case, that they should be addressed by 
their ministers through the medium of the 
Gaelic language; and addresses, delivered 
to them in any other tongue, would be utterly 
unprofitable. Arguing, therefore, from ana- 
logy, he felt that the peculiar condition of the 
Welsh peasantry ought to be met, by demand- 
ing from those, who were appointed to watch 
over and minister among them in the Lord, 
an intimate acquaintance with their own lan- 
guage. Whether the grounds upon which 
the Ohisholm rested his opinion, with regard 
to the Highlanders and the Gaelic language, 
and the analogy between their case and that of 
the inhabitants of Wales, were in all respects 
as sound and perfect as he, no doubt, believed 
they were, it is no part of the writer's office to 
determine. The only motive for adverting to 
the reasons so given, has been to vindicate him 



CONDUCT IN PARLIAMENT. 193 

from the charge, sometimes brought against 
him, of needlessly or obstinately following a 
line of his own, and to show, that, if he dif- 
fered, at any time, from those with whom he 
acted, and with whose cause he was identified, 
it was only when considerations were presen- 
ted to his mind of more lofty and sacred and 
controlling interest than any which can dis- 
tinguish, or sustain, earthly politics and parties. 
A passage occurs, in a speech of his, delivered 
a short time afterwards, at Inverness, which 
expresses his feelings upon this very subject, 
and is here subjoined. He had been charged, 
in the columns of a newspaper politically op- 
posed to him, of entertaining visionary theo- 
ries, and paying no attention to matters of 
practical legislation: to which he answers, 
" This is simply and plainly untrue, as my 
constant attendance in the House will show. 
But if the writer means that I have not been, 
and am not, a servile follower of Sir Robert 
Peel, or any other man or party, then I tell 
him he is right ; I will servilely follow no man. 
But I approve of the general policy of Sir 
Robert Peel and the Conservative party, and I 
will, therefore, in all leading questions, except 



194 CONDUCT IN PARLIAMENT. 

they be, in my judgment, altogether wrong, 
act with, and support them : because I know 
from observation in Parliament, that taking 
a line of one's own is tantamount to neutral- 
izing one's self and one's influence and use- 
fulness V 

On the accession of Queen Victoria to the 
Throne in June, 1837, a new Parliament of 
course was summoned, and the Chisholm 
again offered himself to the notice of the elec- 
tors of the County of Inverness in the follow- 
ing address. 

u Gentlemen, — The lamented death of our 
beloved Sovereign will, of necessity, cause a 
dissolution of Parliament, and an appeal to 
the electors of the United Empire. With 
what answer this appeal shall be met, is obvi- 
ously, in the present crisis, a question of the 
most solemn importance. 

" In again offering myself for your suffrages 
as your representative in Parliament, I pre- 
sume, with the most profound respect, to urge 
upon you the peculiarly sacred duty which now 
devolves upon us, and to call upon you to 

1 Inverness Herald, August 3rd, 1837- 



ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 195 

rally round the Throne, and to strengthen the 
hands of our young Sovereign, by the mani- 
festation of your purpose to uphold, in all in- 
tegrity, the venerated Constitution of this 
great country, over which she is called by 
Providence to rule. 

" My sentiments you know, and therefore I 
need not repeat them. They have undergone 
no change. That they are those of the great 
majority of your number, I feel confident ; 
and, should you still deem me not unworthy 
to represent them in Parliament, I shall go 
there with the same determination with which 
I went before. It shall be my anxious labour 
to keep entire the establishment of the 
churches of these realms, to maintain the in- 
dependence of the three branches of the legis- 
lature, and to apply myself to the considera- 
tion of those wise and temperate changes, 
which, being undertaken in accordance with 
the spirit and nature of the British constitu- 
tion, shall have for their object to secure and 
to perpetuate that matchless system, and to 
promote the happiness of the people. 

" Allow me to take this opportunity of ex- 
pressing my warm gratitude for the honour 
o2 



196 ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 

you have already conferred upon me, and the 
kindness which I have met with among you. 

" I shall do myself the honour of waiting 
upon you without delay, so far as distance 
and time will permit. 

" I have the honour to remain, 
" Gentlemen, 
" Your very faithful and obedient servant, 
"Alexander W. Chisholm." 

" London, June 22, 1837." 

Of the speech delivered by the Ohisholm, 
at the nomination of the candidates at this 
election, an extract has already been just 
given. The whole is well worthy of perusal, 
and shows, in a remarkable degree, the fairness 
and energy of his character : but, as a great 
part of it is occupied in dealing with points only 
of passing interest, — -the revival of which would 
tend to no profit, — the attention of the reader 
is confined to the following quotation. 

" A melancholy event, in the course of the 
government and dealings of Divine Provi- 
dence, has led to our assembling this day. 
We have been bereaved of a generous, a be- 
loved, and beneficent Monarch ; and the con- 



ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 197 

stitution of our country requires that those of 
you, who are entrusted with the elective fran- 
chise, should make choice of a representative, 
to take part, on your behalf, in the delibera- 
tions of the Parliament which has been called by 
our most gracious Queen, to assist her in the 
performance of her high functions, with the 
wisdom and counsel of free, enlightened, and 
loyal subjects. With emotions of grateful 
pride, I thank you, gentlemen, for the honour 
you have once conferred upon me, by placing 
me in that distinguished office, — with the zeal 
of a grateful servant, I again present myself 
before you, desirous of testifying my gratitude 
by renewed service. 

" If you have found me faithful and honest, 
if you have found me diligent and sincere, I 
know that you will not withhold from me that 
highest reward which you have to bestow, the 
renewal of your confidence in me ; unless you 
should deem that my ability to act, falls short 
of my readiness to will. Gentlemen, I ask 
your suffrages, on the ground of my adherence 
to the same principles which I professed on 
the former occasion, and which then placed 
me triumphantly in Parliament. 

" My experience there, short as it has been, 



198 ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 

has not taught me, in any degree, to deviate 
from these principles ; but has rather confirmed 
and strengthened my belief in their soundness 
and truth, and added to my determination to 
act upon them. I am now, as I was then, 
zealous for the maintenance of a Protestant 
Established Church, throughout every portion 
of the United Kingdom. I wish to see the 
government of this Christian country, in plain 
and distinct acknowledgment of its allegiance 
to Him, " by whom alone kings reign," uni- 
ting and identifying itself in every portion of 
the vast dominions which have been given to 
it by the Lord of the whole earth, with the 
visible Church of Christ. I wish to see Bri- 
tain standing forward, amid the nations of the 
earth, before God and man, in the truly ma- 
jestic attitude, and with the lofty bearing, of 
an uncompromising defender of the Christian 
faith. I wish her to proclaim herself, in lan- 
guage not to be misunderstood, the devoted 
servant of Him, who has marked her among 
the kingdoms with distinguished favour ; who 
has plainly identified her renown, and her 
prosperity, throughout her history, with the 
boldness of the national testimony which she 
has borne to His truth. 



ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 199 

" I wish to see Britain tolerant, indeed, as 
becomes a Protestant country, of every spe- 
cies of observance, under the name of religion, 
to which any portion of the people, by sincere 
though mistaken devotion, may be led ; but 
yet making provision, by national means, that, 
if it be possible, in every case, to sincerity may 
be added knowledge. I wish to see her, by 
her government, advocating the rights of con- 
science, but ever mindful of the sacred duty to 
do all that a government can, to pour upon 
every darkened conscience the awakening 
light of truth. I know that many are ready 
to exclaim, What is truth ? Many are ready 
to ask, How can rulers ascertain, amid con- 
flicting opinions, which is true ; and why 
should one sect, as they call it, set them- 
selves up as the possessors of truth ? I think 
that, in Protestant Scotland, few will be hardy 
enough to give utterance to doubts of this 
kind. The same argument would lead to the 
abandonment of our articles of religion and 
confessions of faith. But I care not from what 
quarter such objections may arise ; I care not 
how much difficulty may seem to lie in the 
way of a government, as such, when it would 
ascertain what is religious truth ; it is only a 



200 ADDRESS TO CONSTITUENTS. 

difficulty which opposes itself equally to men 
in their individual capacity ; it is the con- 
dition of debased and blinded humanity : but 
this difficulty can never annihilate truth, nor 
alter its nature ; it cannot make void the real- 
ity of its existence, nor do away with the ob- 
ligation which is binding on men, in every re- 
lation of life, public or private, in every variety 
of corporate, as well as individual, capacity, to 
make themselves sure of what it is, and by 
every exercise of legitimate authority and 
power to teach and promote it. And if this 
be so, it will necessarily follow, that, in carry- 
ing the scheme into practice, there must be 
adopted and enforced, as well a formula of doc- 
trine, as a fixed and definite system of exter- 
nal discipline and government. 

" This will, of necessity, exclude from na- 
tional endowment and support the ministry of 
every sect, who shall feel indisposed, whether 
professors of true or corrupt Christianity, to 
conform to the precise mould of the National 
Establishment. But if any one, admitting 
that, in a Christian country, the government, 
as such, should be Christian, shall affirm that, 
in a national Church Establishment, there is 
oppression, I say that that man is either a very 



RE-ELECTION. 201 

ill-informed or a very shallow reasoner. No 
man can more sincerely respect than I do the 
rights of conscience, and of a free exercise of 
all which even a deluded conscience may en- 
force, under the name of religion, so long as 
there shall be no violence done to others ; no, 
none can more cordially respect and esteem 
those conscientious and Christian Dissenters, 
who are not mere political sectarians. But 
I never can admit that, their consciences 
are really aggrieved, or they themselves op- 
pressed, by the maintenance of a National 
Church, whose doctrines are pure and scrip- 
tural, and whose exclusiveness is the neces- 
sary condition of carrying out the principle of 
a national provision for religious worship and 
religious instruction. Gentlemen, I have en- 
larged the more upon this matter, because I 
conceive the principle involved to be one of 
the highest value and importance, because I 
find it much misconceived and often called in 
question 3 ." 

The election terminated in the return of 
the Chisholm over his former opponent, Grant 
of Glenmoriston, by a majority of fifty-four, 
3 Inverness Herald, ut supra. 



202 RE-ELECTION. 

being nearly double the amount of his majo- 
rity in 1835. He did not, however, long re- 
tain the honour of representing his native 
county in Parliament ; for, upon his return to 
London to attend his public duties, he was so 
frequently compelled to be absent on account 
of ill health, that, at length, in the following 
spring, he came most reluctantly to the deter- 
mination of resigning his seat. 

There were other considerations also which 
weighed strongly with him, and tended to the 
same result. The most prominent of these 
was doubtless the heavy expenditure already 
forced upon him, by the recurrence, at very 
short intervals of time, of two contests which 
he had encountered for the representation of 
the county, and the first of which had been 
yet further aggravated by a petition before a 
committee of the House of Commons. Ex- 
penses such as these of course rendered much 
more arduous the discharge of the important 
duties which had devolved upon him : and, — 
with an income never very large, and which 
had been made still less by the discharge of 
those obligations which, as the preceding 
pages will have shown, he had in earlier years 
5 



RE-ELECTION. 203 

freely and generously taken upon himself, — 
it might well have been a matter of grave con- 
sideration for himself, to determine how far he 
was justified in retaining a position which 
might probably increase them. He had no 
taste moreover for the ordinary pursuits of a 
London life, or for the excitements of political 
debate, — his heart was with his people in the 
Highlands; and to break loose from every 
other trammel, that he might return to them, 
was his greatest earthly solace. It was not 
for him however to sacrifice to the love of ease 
the requirements of duty; — and, if it had been 
merely a question which concerned his own 
personal feelings and inclinations, it is the 
firm conviction of the writer that he would 
never have allowed a regard for them to have 
interfered, for a single moment, with the obli- 
gations of the solemn trust committed to his 
hands. The causes, which led him eventually 
to resign it, were of a far more constraining 
character. Evidences will have appeared, in 
the letters contained in the preceding chapter, 
of his growing conviction that such a step was 
absolutely necessary ; and the following letters 
may serve to exhibit it more clearly. 



204 LETTERS FROM LEAMINGTON. 

" Leamington, April 24th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I have this 
morning received your most kind letter of the 
20th. Thank God, I am much better under 
Jephson's treatment, though I saw him for 
the first time on Saturday, and this is only 
Tuesday. I adhere most rigidly to his rules, 
and I think you know that I am very good 
and obedient in the hands of a medical man. 
I at once relieve your anxieties about my go- 
ing away from this place for the meeting of 
Parliament after Easter recess, by assuring 
you that I do not intend to go, nor, with 
God^s permission, to leave Jephson, till I shall 
have given his system a fair trial. After hav- 
ing done so, (which, please God, with a con- 
tinuance of my present improvement, I may 
hope to do with much benefit,) I think I may 
say positively that, should I be spared and 
permitted by Providence, it is my intention 
to take your advice, my own mother, and 
start for home. But let me entreat you, my 
dearest mother, not to think of coming here 
just now ; I am really getting quite well with 
my regularity of diet and hours; and then 
your coming would be such a very great ex- 



LETTERS FROM LEAMINGTON. 205 

pense and fatigue, particularly as I have every 
reason to hope, by the goodness of God, that 
I shall be ready to leave this place by the time 
you could get here, I would indeed at once, 
as you suggest, start for home, but that it is 
much better for a short time, say ten days or 
a fortnight, to follow Jephson's rules under 
his own eye, than to leave the cure only half 
effected. 

" I long very much to join you, my dearest 
mother, at home, and to experience, if God 
will permit, the various enjoyments you men- 
tion, and which are indeed so much more ac- 
cording to my taste than public life and Lon- 
don, and, I think, also afford me better op- 
portunities, as I am constituted, of real useful- 
ness. A very little more consideration will 
confirm me in my design of giving up Parlia- 
ment ; but I must do so in a way to ensure as 
far as possible a proper successor. 

"It is the post hour, so telling you you 
may soon, please God, expect me home, and 
asking God's blessing for you and Jemima, 
" I remain, my dearest mother, 
" Your most affectionate son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 



206 LETTERS FROM LEAMINGTON. 

" Leamington, May 4th, 1838. 

"My dearest Mother, — Thank God, 
I am getting on very well in health, and 
Jephson told me yesterday that I should very 
soon be ' sound from the crown of my head to 
the sole of my foot.' I quote his words, but 
not profanely ; for, as I write, I remember 
these words, in the first chapter of Isaiah, as 
figurative of spiritual health. May we be 
more and more thankful for mercies temporal, 
and may we seek, above all, to be made spirit- 
ually ' sound,' and c clean ' through the * pre- 
cious blood that cleanseth from all sin." 

" I trust, my dearest mother, that you con- 
tinue in good health, and that Jemima also is 
well. Give her my warmest love. I conclude 
in time for the post, and remain, my dearest 
mother, — Your most affectionate son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

" May God bless you and Jemima for 
Christ's sake." 

" Leamington, May 11th, 1838. 
" My dearest Mother, — I am going on, 
thank the gracious God, who sends sickness 
and health in perfect wisdom and love, as well 



RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 207 

as I possibly could, and indeed, far better 
than I could have supposed possible. I am 
getting strong ; I feel my limbs braced up ; I 
walk, at intervals, nearer four than three hours 
every day, at the rate of nearly three miles 
an hour. I am in good spirits and sleep well. 
I get up early, and feel no heaviness nor drow- 
siness in the morning, and am able to dress 
in consequence quickly. I take the cold shower 
bath every day about one o'clock, and it is 
close upon my time for it now. So that you 
see our most kind and merciful Heavenly 
Father enables me to give you a long cata- 
logue of benefits, as regards my bodily health. 
May He sanctify to you, my own mother, 
the gladness which I am sure all this will 
impart to you ! May He sanctify you in the 
act of rendering Him thanks, from a grate- 
ful heart, under the influence of His own Holy 
Spirit ; and may that blessed Teacher enable 
you, with more unceasing earnestness, to ask 
at the Throne of Grace for a continuance of 
all temporal comforts which the only wise God 
may see meet for us ! Above all, may the 
Blessed Spirit quicken our dormant and inac- 
tive desires, (if they exist at all,) after spirit- 



208 RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 

ual food and blessings ; and, if we want those 
desires, may He give them to us; may He 
excite us to that ' hungering and thirsting 
after righteousness," 1 the satisfaction of which 
we know to be (unlike temporal wishes of 
doubtful advantage) good for us, and as cer- 
tain to be given as the appetite exists ! Pray 
for these things, my dearest mother, for your- 
self, for Duncan, Jemima, me, and all men. 

" I think of asking Jephson's leave to go to 
town on Monday the 14th, as I mentioned to 
you, to get a pair ; though indeed he told me, 
a day or two ago, that I might go with per- 
fect safety. I think, please God, if he deems 
it advisable, that I shall still stay here for a 
very short time, probably on my way north. 

" May God bless you and Jemima, to whom 
I send my warmest love. 

" Ever, my dearest mother, 

" Your most affectionate son, 

"A. W. Chisholm." 

The intimations of his wish to leave Parlia- 
ment, expressed in the foregoing letters, soon 
terminated in his resolution to do so ; and the 
following letter contains the announcement to 
his constituents of his resignation. 



RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 209 

" To the Electors of the County of Inverness. 
" Gentlemen, — It is with no ordinary re- 
gret that I feel myself under the necessity, on 
the ground of my health and other urgent 
reasons, of resigning into your hands the seat, 
as your representative in Parliament, with 
which you have now twice honoured me. I 
know you will give me credit for sincerity, 
when I assure you that I could not have 
formed a resolution of this nature without 
much and anxious reflection. 

"To my friends I shall take the earliest 
opportunity of entering into a further expla- 
nation than would be either suitable or pos- 
sible in a public address. Meantime, I re- 
quest them to accept this expression of my 
most cordial and grateful thanks for the pri- 
vate kindness to myself, with which their pub- 
lic zeal for the cause with which I was identi- 
fied has ever been mingled ; while to my hon- 
ourable and consistent opponents I tender my 
acknowledgments for the courtesy which I 
have always experienced from them. 

" To give up the proud distinction of repre- 
senting in Parliament the county of Inverness 
without a pang of sorrow, would be impossible. 



210 RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 

The best consolation which I can promise to 
myself is the earnest exertion of my humble 
efforts, within a more limited sphere, for the 
maintenance and advancement of the cause, 
for which I sought and obtained the suffrages 
of so large a majority of the constituency of 
that county. 

" I cannot but entertain the sanguine hope, 
that in the return of my successor, the same 
energy and exertion, on the part of the friends 
of our Church and our Constitution, which 
they have before displayed, will obtain a like 
victory. 

" It only remains for me to say, that I ap- 
ply for the Chiltern Hundreds, and shall in all 
probability, by the time this letter is in your 
hands, have ceased to be a member of Parlia- 
ment. 

" I have the honor to remain, 
" Gentlemen, 
" Your most obliged 

" And very faithful servant, 
" Alexander W. Chisholm." 
"London, May 18, 1838." 

The Chisholm left London very soon after 



RESIGNS HIS SEAT. 21 J 

he had issued the above address, and thus an- 
nounced to his mother his intention of jour- 
neying, without further delay, homewards. 

« London, May 28, 1838. 

"My dearest Mother, — I leave this, 
God willing, to-morrow morning. I wish, if I 
can manage it without much delay, to see 
Jephson on my way. I do not think I can 
reach Inverness sooner than Monday next, if 
so soon. I do not wish to travel by night, 
and shall therefore, please God, rest there 
and travel only by day. 

" I continue, thank God, in very good 
health. I shall, if I can, let you have a line 
while I am on the road, to say more posi- 
tively the day on which I can be at Inverness. 
But, I must, for the short time before the 
election, do all I can in the canvassing way 
without fatigue, as so much responsibility 
rests with me for having caused the vacancy. 

"I trust that Jemima and you are quite 
well. May God bless you and her, for Christ's 
sake. — Ever, my dearest mother, 

" Your most affectionate son, 

"A W. Chisholm." 
p2 



CHAPTER XIII. 



PROPOSES THE MASTER OF GRANT.— HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 
THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, — AND THE CHURCH OF ROME. 

The Chisholm was now most anxious that the 
important public interests, which he had en- 
deavoured to support, shouid not suffer from 
the resignation, which he had been compelled 
to make, of his seat in Parliament. As soon 
therefore as he was able to leave London, he 
hastened to his native county, and made 
every exertion in his power to secure, as its 
representative, the return of one who, he 
was well assured, would pursue a line of con- 
duct in perfect accordance with those prin- 
ciples which had made himself twice trium- 
phant. Nor was he disappointed in this effort ; 
for the Master of Grant, whom he proposed as 
his successor, was elected without opposition. 



PROPOSES THE MASTER OF GRANT. 21e> 

The writer of this Memoir makes no ex- 
tract from the speech which the Chisholm 
delivered upon that occasion; for, although 
strongly marked throughout by the same abi- 
lity and courage and lofty principle which dis- 
tinguished his former speeches, it was never- 
theless directed, for the most part, to the cor- 
rection of what he believed to be certain 
errors and misrepresentations, which had 
been circulated among some of the most influ- 
ential of his constituents, as to the supposed 
priority of claim to their support, possessed 
by another candidate of the same political 
principles. Such vindication of his own con- 
duct from the aspersions cast upon it, the Chis- 
holm felt, at the time, that it was necessary 
for himself to make : and his own quick sense 
of honour, and abhorrence of any thing and 
every thing which might seem to compromise 
it, prompted him to utter, in the boldest terms, 
the language of warm and indignant rebuke 
against those who, he thought, had judged 
unfairly of his conduct. It is possible also, 
that the fatal and unseen malady which, in a 
few months afterwards, quenched within him 
the spark of bodily life, might, even then, have 



214 PROPOSES THE 

been at work, and imparted a stronger im- 
pulse to the ardour of his natural tempera- 
ment. But, whatever may have been the ne- 
cessity laid upon the Ohisholm to adopt a 
course so painful to him, the writer feels him- 
self relieved from dwelling upon it. Nay 
more, as the conviction is firmly impressed 
upon the writer's own mind, that, if the spirit 
of his friend were still animating its " earthly 
house of this tabernacle \ n it would have un- 
ceasingly renewed those prayers for mutual 
pardon, which, before its departure from this 
unquiet world, it offered up, so earnestly and 
faithfully, before the Throne of Grace, — and 
that words of kindness and acts of kindness, 
issuing from the same spirit, would long since 
have stilled the voice and smoothed the brow 
of angry disputants, and won back the con- 
fidence of the estranged to his heart again, — 
so he trusts that he may now most effectu- 
ally promote the same blessed work of recon- 
ciliation, by abstaining from any further com- 
ment upon the misunderstanding which then 
arose. 

If any thing were yet wanting to show how 

i 2 Cor. v. 2. 



MASTER OF GRANT. 215 

worthless are the causes of earthly quarrel, 
and delusive oftentimes the objects of ordi- 
nary ambition, — and how vain therefore, and 
worse than vain is the needless revival of them, 
— it is the fact, which the present narrative 
supplies, that he, who, in the prime of man- 
hood, thus resigned into the hands of his con- 
stituents the trust which they had committed 
to him, was in a few months numbered with 
the dead ; and, that, ere two more years had 
passed, the successor, whom he had pro- 
posed, whose desires were as warm, and whose 
hopes were as eager as his own, had himself 
followed him to the tomb. These are the 
events which tell us, as feelingly as a simi- 
lar event told the orator and statesman, in 
the hour of his political defeat, ' what shadows 
we are, and what shadows we pursue V 

The brief interval of time, which elapsed 
before the Chisholm was seized with his last 
illness, was passed by him at Erchless and its 
neighbourhood, in maturing plans which he 
had already formed for the temporal and spi- 
ritual welfare of his people, and in laying the 

2 Burke's speech at Bristol on declining the poll, Works, 
vol. iii. p. 433. 



216 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

foundation of others, the accomplishment of 
which he was not permitted to see in this 
world. Among the most prominent of these, 
was the provision which he desired to make 
for the Church which he had recently built at 
his own expense, and which had been opened 
for Divine Service a few months before. In 
the course of the summer of 1838, the Sacra- 
ment of the Lord^s Supper was administered, 
for the first time, beneath its roof, and the 
Ohisholm then sat, as one of the communi- 
cants, at the head of the communion table. 
It was the opinion of some persons, — and ex- 
pressed in a document which will hereafter be 
referred to, — an opinion, which, the writer sup- 
poses, was formed mainly upon the strength of 
the fact just recorded, — that, had his valuable 
life been prolonged, he would have soon for- 
mally joined the Church of Scotland, and taken 
his place as an Elder in its General Assembly. 
This opinion, however, the writer has no he- 
sitation in saying is erroneous. The asser- 
tions, which, as the preceding pages will have 
shown, the Chisholm so publicly and repeat- 
edly made of his resolution to defend the pri- 
vileges, spiritual and temporal, of that branch 



THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 217 

of the Catholic and Apostolic Church into 
which he had been received by Baptism, — the 
strict and consistent line of conduct, which he 
pursued, in accordance with those assertions, — 
and the reverential observance which he paid 
to all her ordinances, — are the most sure and 
certain witnesses to the truth of the fact, that, 
from that Church, he had no wish, no intention, 
to depart. It were an act of unfaithfulness 
with which he cannot justly be charged. That 
it was his duty to provide, as far as in him lay, 
the means of worship according to the rites 
of the Established Church of Scotland, for 
those of his tenantry who were members of 
its communion, cannot be questioned; and 
he shrank not from its obligations. But it 
was no part of his duty to forego his own 
convictions, and to compromise his own pro- 
fessions. If it be alleged, that he did so com- 
promise them, by partaking of the Holy Com- 
munion in the manner related above, it should 
be borne in mind that there are peculiar rela- 
tions, existing between the Highland Chief 
and his clansmen, which they, who are set 
over the tenantry and households of southern 
climes, not seeing realized among themselves, 



218 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

can scarcely understand: — and that the 
weight of such relations was likely to press 
upon his mind, with more than peculiar ur- 
gency, at a time when, in the House of Prayer 
which he himself had raised, and amid the 
band of worshippers whom he loved, the Holy 
Communion was for the first time adminis- 
tered by one whom he knew and esteemed for 
his work's sake, and who was the minister 
of a Church, which he had ever laboured to 
uphold. It was the Church established by 
law, and he desired to give the utmost effici- 
ency of operation to the means of sanctifying 
truth which it possessed. He felt that, by 
the Act of Union, it had become, as it has 
been well expressed, 4 a part of the nation's 
organic life,' and he sought therefore to secure 
for it 4 all that belongs to a. national Establish- 
ment 3 .' 

With these feelings, the Chisholm was led to 
receive the Holy Communion in the Church of 
Scotland, upon the signal occasion referred to ; 
but it was not his practice to do so ; and the 
writer could bring forward, if it were necessary, 

3 See Gladstone c On the State in its relations to the 
Church,' chap. vii. p. 243. 2nd edition. 



THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 219 

many evidences to show that his mind was be- 
coming more and more alive to the anomaly of 
such a practice. It is, indeed, the observa- 
tion of one, who, in addition to his own exten- 
sive personal knowledge of the subject, has 
brought to bear upon it the most patient in- 
vestigation, impartial judgment, and varied 
information, that ' many persons of sincere 
piety do not object to consider themselves as 
members both of the English and Scottish 
Church, according as they may happen to 
reside, at different seasons of the year, South 
or North of the Border V But the Ohisholm 
can scarcely be said to be included in this 
class. He did not consider the act of out- 
ward separation a matter of trivial import- 
ance, nor would he deliberately have so sepa- 
rated himself. 

The clearest illustration perhaps of the po- 
sition occupied, in this respect, by the Ohis- 
holm, is contained in the following extract 
from a letter written by one of his friends, 
Mr. Colquhoun, the late member for Kilmar- 
nock. It was addressed originally by Mr. 
Colquhoun to the editor of the " Times," in 

4 See Gladstone, ut sup. p. 245. 



220 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

answer to some remarks which had appeared 
in that Journal, last year, upon a speech of his 
on certain provisions of the Poor Law Bill, 
viz. —that which related to the maintenance of 
religious worship in workhouses, and with re- 
ference to which it had been said, in a lead- 
ing article of the " Times," that he (Mr. 0.) 
as " a conscientious Presbyterian," was hardly 
competent to give an opinion. To which Mr. 
0. replies, that it was a " mistake" to call him 
" a conscientious Presbyterian ;" and adds, 
"lama member of the Church of England. 
It is true that I have given, and shall conti- 
nue to give, both as a landed proprietor in 
Scotland, and as a representative of a Scotch 
constituency, the most earnest support to the 
established Church of Scotland. So far from 
holding this to be incompatible with my obli- 
gations as a member of the Church of Eng- 
land, I think it strictly congenial with them ; 
but it has not been my practice to communi- 
cate with the Church of Scotland, but with 
that Church of which from my infancy I have 
been a member — the Church of England. 

" It is true, that, many years ago I followed 
what was an irregular, but then not an unfre- 



THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 221 

quent practice among members of the Church 
of England resident in Scotland, of assisting 
in the deliberations of the General Assembly, 
for which purpose it is required that a person 
should become an elder of the Church of Scot- 
land, and should communicate, at least once, 
according to its forms. By this practice there 
arose in Scotland a class of nominal elders, 
ostensibly connected with the Church, but not 
discharging the regular functions of the office 
which, with a view to a public purpose, they 
held. This undoubtedly was an abuse ; and, 
however laudable in intention, I do not won- 
der that of late years the Church of Scotland 
should have discountenanced the practice, and 
that individuals should have discontinued it. 
The result has been, that, for some years on 
my part, as well as on that of other members 
of the Church of England, the practice has 
ceased, and we are now restricted to render- 
ing to the Church of Scotland, from without, 
that public service which, on every ground of 
policy and principle, I shall feel it at all times 
my duty to tender her. 

" On my competency to legislate for the 
Church of England, which you seem to ques- 



222 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

tion, it would not become me to speak. No 
one can feel more unaffectedly sensible of his 
deficiencies for so important a duty. Such 
as they are, however, they attach to one who 
avows himself amongst the humblest, but not 
the least devoted of her members 5 ." 

In words substantially the same with those 
which the late member for Kilmarnock has here 
employed, and with a spirit not less devoted 
to the Church of which he was an affectionate 
and faithful son, the writer believes that the 
Chisholm would have expressed his own feel- 
ings and views, upon the same subject, had he 
been yet alive. 

What his judgment would have been upon 
the sad and distracting controversy, now car- 
ried on so keenly in the Church of Scotland, 
upon the Veto Question, it is impossible to 
say; for the proceedings which had arisen 
out of the decision upon the Auchterader case, 
had not reached, during his lifetime, that pain- 
ful and perplexed position in which they are 
now placed. He foresaw, however, the pro- 
spect of much dissension and misery in what 

5 See * Times/' April 2, 1841. 



THE CHURCH OF ROME. 223 

was even then going on ; the last conversa- 
tion which the writer ever had with him, in 
the spring of 1838, was upon this very sub- 
ject ; and the terms in which he then spoke, 
of the devotedness and zeal of the ministers 
of the Scottish Church, and the trials by 
which they were encompassed, can never be 
forgotten by him who heard them. 

The feelings which the Ohisholm enter- 
tained with regard to the Church of Rome, 
and the conduct which he pursued towards 
its members, the writer has reason to believe 
have been exposed to some misconstruction ; 
and he readily avails himself, therefore, of 
the present opportunity to state the princi- 
ples by which he believes his friend was actu- 
ated with reference to this point. That he 
regarded the assumed infallibility and supre- 
macy of the Church of Rome, as at once 
the source of all her corruptions, and the 
barrier, which, as long as it remained, must 
hinder it from being reformed ; that he consi- 
dered her, therefore, as unchanged in charac- 
ter, and dangerous as ever in influence, and 
that he shrank from all communion with her, 
there can be no doubt ;— and how could he 



224 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

have been a faithful member of the Church of 
England, if he had thought or acted other- 
wise? He was one of those, however, who 
thought it right to assume a position of direct 
and aggressive antagonism against the coun- 
sels of Popery; and he not only enrolled himself 
as a member of the Protestant Association, 
which was formed in London in the year 1 835, 
but was also instrumental in establishing a si- 
milar Association, soon afterwards, at Inver- 
ness. In taking this step, he was no doubt con- 
strained by a paramount sense of duty; but, 
at the same time, no one knew better than him- 
self that there were many, beside those who 
joined with him in these Associations, — many, 
not less alive than he was to the errors and 
abominations of the Romish Church, and not 
less resolute to maintain the distinctive pri- 
vileges of their own, — who, nevertheless, were 
of opinion that the object, which all desired to 
secure, was not likely to be attained through 
the agency of such means. They apprehended, 
not without reason, that the excitement which 
usually attends public meetings of this de- 
scription, might impart additional energy to 
those feelings of partizanship which need ra- 



THE CHURCH OF ROME. 225 

ther to be allayed than increased ; and that 
sentiments might often be expressed and 
statements advanced, which would expose even 
the truth to reproach. And if such evil con- 
sequences, among others, might ensue, even 
when the operations of the Association were 
carried on upon a wide theatre of action, such 
as the Metropolis afforded, much more might 
it be thought that the pernicious effect of 
them would be increased, when brought to 
act within a narrower sphere, among the 
friends and neighbours of his own native 
county of Inverness. 

It should be borne in mind, however, 
by those who may be disposed to question 
the rectitude of judgment which adopted 
such a course, that there was much in the 
political proceedings of that period which ap- 
peared to justify it. The vague latitudinarian 
principles advanced upon the great subject 
of the education of the people, — the theory, 
which seemed to be more and more counte- 
nanced, that all opinions were to be regarded 
as equally true, because those who held them 
might be equally sincere, — the discourage- 

Q 



226 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

ment avowedly cast, at the same time, upon 
the United Church of England and Ireland, 
as well as upon that of Scotland, by the 
policy pursued by those who were entrusted 
with the reins of government, — all this was 
certainly calculated to create the apprehen- 
sion, that, under cover of such doctrines and 
practices, the members of the Church of 
Borne would be more active, and, if not 
checked, successful, in their attempts to over- 
throw the barriers which the British Constitu- 
tion now presents against them. 

The main object which the writer has in 
view, in noticing these matters, is to show, 
that, whilst the Chisholm, who sincerely 
shared these apprehensions with regard to 
the increased facilities given to the encroach- 
ments of the Eomish Church, felt himself jus- 
tified in pursuing the course which has been 
related above, he nevertheless was actuated 
by the spirit of Christian kindness towards 
the individual members of its communion. 
The contrary to this, the writer believes, has 
been industriously circulated ; but he ven- 
tures to give to the report an unqualified de- 



THE CHURCH OF ROME. 227 

nial. A remarkable instance occurred in 
confirmation of this denial, at the last election 
of the Chisholm for the county. A few mi- 
nutes before the final close of the poll, when 
his success was beyond all doubt, some of his 
tenants, members of his clan and bearing his 
name, who were Roman Catholics, came up 
and recorded their votes against him. As the 
act itself could not possibly have affected the 
result of the contest, the performance of it 
under such circumstances was calculated to 
make it partake of the character of a personal 
insult. The Chisholm was deeply hurt by it ; 
and there were not wanting those who urged 
him to remove them from his estates. But 
to this he would by no means consent ; — he 
suffered them, in no degree, to be molested 
for an act in which he looked upon them 
only as instruments in the hands of others ; 
and continued gratuitous support to some of 
their near relatives, who had been previously 
aided by his bounty. 

Another circumstance occurred, in the 

month of February 1838, which shows in a 

very remarkable degree, the forbearance and 

kindness which he thought it his duty to ex- 

q2 



228 HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS 

ercise towards his Roman Catholic neighbours. 
His mother, acting as his almoner during his 
attendance upon Parliament, was in the habit 
of distributing his weekly charities to the 
poor, several of whom came from the adjoin- 
ing estate of Lord Lovat, who is a Roman 
Catholic. Information had been conveyed 
to her of his Lordship's intention, — an inten- 
tion arising, probably, from some mistake, or 
else erroneously reported to her,— that no part 
of his charities, distributed in the parish, should 
be given to the poor on the Chisholm estate. 
Upon hearing this, acting under the feelings 
of the moment, aud in a different spirit, as 
she acknowledges, from that which afterwards 
actuated her son, she wrote to Lord Lovat to 
say that, in such case, she should withhold 
her son's accustomed charities from the poor 
of his lordship's property. On further reflec- 
tion, however, she thought it right, before she 
sent the letter, to send a copy of it to her son ; 
— and the following is his reply. 

"London, Feb. 19th, 1838. 

" My dearest Mother, — I really wish 
you not to send the letter, of which you have 



THE CHURCH OF ROME. 229 

sent me a copy, to Lord Lovat. The only 
object we have in view is the glory of God, 
and I pray that His glory may be manifested 
by us, who profess to serve Him and love 
Him, in the distribution of alms, as well as 
in every other way. I trust my dearest mo- 
ther, that you will pray for this also, and that 
we may be directed by a right judgment in 
this, and every such matter. 

" If they have been anxious to make a 
marked distinction in their giving of alms, I 
am sure it will not tell the worse for the pro- 
fession of the truth, that we should even be 
more anxious, without display, to act in a con- 
trary manner. Even though Lord Lovat 
should have given such an order, you must 
remember that giving money in that way is 
somewhat different from doing little acts of 
kindness every now and then ; and moreover 
that my property of Teanassie is not so near 
Lovat's residence as his property on both 
sides is to Erchless. It strikes me on the 
whole, that there is some little difference be- 
tween the cases. However, let us bear in 
mind that they who profess to follow Christ 



230 LETTER ILLUSTRATING THEM. 

are bound to be different from others, and to 
let the difference be seen. Let our study be 
(with the blessing of God to be obtained by 
prayer) that we may cause all men to perceive 
the sweet savour of the fruits of the Gospel. 
You may be sure that if we seek to adorn the 
doctrine of God our Saviour in this as in all 
things, there will not be wanting such an ob- 
servation on the part of lookers-on. I shall 
convince them, though they may refuse to 
confess it, of the superiority of the work of 
grace on the heart. May the Lord indeed 
begin and perfect this work in your heart and 
in mine, my dearest mother. Is Jemima at 
home ? Give her my warmest love. May God 
bless you and her with that blessing which 
maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. I could 
not get a Bible exactly like my own for Dun- 
can, but Nisbet will have one ready in a few 
days. 

• c Ever, my dearest Mother, 

" Your most affectionate Son, 

" A. W. Chisholm." 

" P. S, I am very glad you sent me a copy 



LETTER ILLUSTRATING THEM. 231 

of the letter before sending it to Lovat ; pray 
do not send it to him." 

It is needless to say, after this, that the let- 
ter was not sent to Lord Lovat, and that the 
Chisholm's charities continued to be distri- 
buted as before. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



HIS LAST ILLNESS — DEATH — AND BURIAL. 

On the first of August, 1838, the Chisholm, 
who had gone to Inverness upon business, was 
seized, at the Caledonian Hotel, with sudden 
and alarming illness, which, in a few weeks, 
terminated in death. The illness was ascer- 
tained eventually to have been caused by an 
aneurism of the aorta, for which human skill 
and science afford no remedy. The symptoms, 
indeed, which accompanied the first attack, 
soon subsided; and they who watched over 
him, seeing him under all his sufferings, main- 
tain the same cheerfulness and buoyancy of 
spirits which had always characterized him, 
might have indulged the hope that he would 
yet be spared to them. But the hope was not 
to be fulfilled. He was himself quite con- 



HIS LAST ILLNESS. 233 

scious that he was in a state of great danger ; 
but, through the greater part of his illness, was 
certainly not impressed with the belief that his 
recovery was hopeless. On the contrary, he 
often spoke to his sister, — who with his mother 
was constantly in attendance upon him, — of his 
earnest hope and prayer, in the event of his 
recovery, that he might be enabled to walk more 
worthily of his Christian calling than he had 
yet done. Again and again did he express his 
thankfulness unto God, that he had not been 
permitted to defer thoughts of religion till 
he was on a sick bed, when every energy was 
so enfeebled and brought low ; and anxiously 
and constantly did he renew his supplications, 
at the Throne of Grace, for further help in his 
time of need. One day, during his illness, he 
told his sister that he had just been endea- 
vouring honestly to examine his heart to dis- 
cover whether he had any unchristian feeling 
towards any one. There was only one person, 
he said, regarding whom he had suspicion of 
his own feelings : but he instantly added with 
deep fervour, " I have prayed for him and 
for myself. God grant us his mercy ! " 
Prayer was, indeed, ever upon his lips; — it 



234 HIS LAST ILLNESS. 

had been his companion and support in health ; 
— it was his stay and solace in weakness. It 
was so habitual with him, that, in his last ill- 
ness, he never took medicine or any refresh- 
ment, however faint or feeble he might feel, 
without first looking up to Heaven, and pray- 
ing. It might truly and pre-eminently be said 
of him, that he was a man of prayer ; that 
he lived a life of prayer. The faithfulness 
and zeal, with which he conducted family 
prayer in the midst of his own household, has 
already been noticed ; and his letters are uni- 
formly dictated in a like spirit. And so was 
it with him, in every other portion of his daily 
walk. The writer has seen a letter from a 
young physician, an acquaintance of his, who 
visited Erchless Castle in the summer of 1838; 
and he says, that, from the position of the room 
which he occupied, he could hear the sound 
of the Chisholm's voice, while he was engaged 
in private prayer ; — that it was generally the 
last sound which fell upon his ear before he 
went to sleep, and the first upon awaking in 
the morning. The same deep unwearied de- 
votion, — the same desire to continue " instant 
in prayer,^ continued to animate the Oris- 
12 



HIS LAST ILLNESS. ZoO 

holm, when mingling in the busiest and most 
stirring scenes of public life. The writer has 
received a letter from one, who is a member of 
the present, as he was of the last Parliament 
during the late king's reign, and who says, that, 
although there was a considerable disparity 
of years between the Ohisholm and himself, 
he was always glad of the opportunity of sit- 
ting as near to him as he could in the House, 
that he might secure the benefit of hearing 
his observations on whatever might be going 
on. He says, also, that, for some time, pre- 
vious to the general election, in the first year 
of the reign of our present gracious sovereign, 
a small society of members, from both sides of 
the House, used to meet, every evening of 
the sittings, in a room near the House, hired 
for the purpose, where the Scriptures were 
read and prayer offered up. The number of 
those (who thus assembled themselves together) 
of course varied, but the average was about 
five or six. On one occasion, the Ohisholm 
and himself were alone ; — and the manner 
and matter of his conversation and prayers 
that evening will not easily be effaced from 
his memory. No marvel that one who, thus 



236 HIS LAST ILLNESS. 

faithfully and constantly, held communion 
with his Heavenly Father, should have felt 
the power of His sustaining comfort. 

During the progress of his illness, the Rev- 
erend Charles Bridges, Vicar of Old New- 
ton, Suffolk, passed through Inverness, and, 
although not previously acquainted with the 
Ohisholm, was yet anxious, from the interest 
which he felt in his character, to have an in- 
terview with him. The request which he 
made to that effect, was instantly complied 
with, and he saw him twice. The Chisholm 
was then in a most critical state, and, of 
course, the conversation could neither be pro- 
longed nor minute ; but it was enough to con- 
vince Mr. Bridges of the reality of that strong 
foundation, on which the hope of the sufferer 
was established ; and, to use his own language 
in a letter to the writer of this Memoir,™ 
" the deep seriousness, peaceful composure, 
and Christian faith which he witnessed in the 
Chisholm, have left a fragrant recollection of 
his sick chamber ." Similar testimonies from 
Dr. Abercrombie and others, might be multi- 
plied ; but this were needless. The victory 
which, in him, had overcome the world, was too 



HIS DEATH. 287 

signal to need the voice of many witnesses, to 
tell of its trophies. May they, who now hold 
the same heavenly weapons of assault or de- 
fence against the adversary of their souls, 
pray that they may wield them as faithfully, 
and watch thereunto with all perseverance ! 

The Chisholm partook of the Holy Com- 
munion of the Body and Blood of Christ for 
the last time, at the hands of the Reverend 
Mr. Fyvie, the Episcopalian Clergyman of 
Inverness ; and on the eighth of September, 
at half-past nine in the morning, his spirit was 
' delivered from the burden of the flesh,'' to 
rest, as we humbly trust, in Jesus. 

To describe the deep sorrow caused by his 
early death, were an hopeless attempt. From 
the first moment, in which his fatal malady 
had been announced, persons of all classes and 
opinions had felt and expressed the most un- 
feigned anxiety and alarm, and had watched 
with alternate hopes and fears the report of 
every change communicated to them ; and 
when at length the conviction was realized to 
them, that they were to see his face no more, 
they lifted up their voices and wept. The 
circumstances which attended his funeral, are 



288 HIS FUNERAL. 

too remarkable to be overlooked; and the 
writer readily avails himself of the following 
description of them, contained in the Inver- 
ness Herald of that date. 

" This deeply affecting interment took place 
on Tuesday. The oldest inhabitant of this 
district does not remember any funeral in this 
quarter of the empire which excited an inte- 
rest so intense. At ten o'clock in the fore- 
noon, an immense assemblage, comprising in- 
dividuals of opposite sides in political senti- 
ment, met to shew their respect for the me- 
mory of the departed Chieftain. After solemn 
prayer had been offered up by the Reverend 
Mr. Clark, according to the usage of the 
Church of Scotland, the procession moved 
slowly from the Caledonian Hotel, about ele- 
ven o'clock. They proceeded by the old bridge, 
and along the western bank of the river, to- 
wards the road leading to Erchless. The 
procession, as it left Inverness, consisting of 
equipages and vehicles of every description, 
extended to more than a mile in length ; and 
while it received several accessions by the 
way, few of those who had any conveyance 
returned until they had interred the body of 



HTS FUNERAL. 239 

the Chisholm, amidst his own mountains. 
The whole proceeded on foot, until they had 
passed the boundaries of the Burgh. The magi- 
strates walked in deep mourning, before the 
hearse, attended by their officers. Glengarry 
followed the body, as chief mourner, accompa- 
nied by the relations of the deceased ; the she- 
riffs of the northern counties followed ; then 
came a numerous body of the gentry and 
clergy of the Highlands, and of our town's 
people, of every rank. Every eminence from 
which a view could be obtained of the proces- 
sion, was crowded with spectators, and both 
banks of the river were lined with an orderly 
throng, looking on as the mortal remains of 
the Chisholm were borne away from a place 
where his early death had excited the liveliest 
feelings of regret and sorrow. As the caval- 
cade passed quickly over the road intervening 
between Inverness and Erchless, the country 
people crowding to the way-side, expressed 
their sympathy. A numerous body of his own 
tenantry and clansmen, as well as of the adjoin- 
ing rural population, joined the funeral proces- 
sion, some time before it reached Erchless Cas- 
tle, where it arrived at four in the afternoon. 
" When the hearse came within the policies 



240 HIS FUNERAL. 

of the Castle, the coffin was taken out, and 
slowly borne on the shoulders of his clansmen 
and tenants, to a wooded hill, in the immedi- 
ate vicinity, where the body was interred, 
after the burial service of the Church of Eng- 
land had been read by the Reverend Mr. 
Fyvie. It was a lovely day, and the romantic 
scenery, along which the funeral array passed, 
looked even more striking than ordinary ; the 
sun shining forth in all his glory over its 
wild woods, dashing cataracts, and majestic 
mountains. A broad pathway wound around 
the hill, to the sleeping place of the Chis- 
holm. His body was deposited in the centre 
of a level area, on the summit of the 
mount, surrounded by ancient trees, certainly 
the loveliest spot in that picturesque vicinity. 
The beauty of the day seemed to resemble the 
sunshine of peaceful hope, in which he laid 
his head on the pillow of death, while the 
quiet repose of the situation chosen for his in- 
terment put one in mind of the tranquil re- 
pose in which that body shall slumber, undis- 
turbed by the storms of life, until awakened 
from its dreamless sleep, by the sound of the 
last trumpet V 

1 Inverness Herald, Sep. 21st, 1838. 



HIS FUNERAL. 241 

The spot marked out for the Chisholm's 
grave, which is described in the preceding 
extract, had been duly consecrated^ previous 
to the interment, according to the rites of the 
Episcopal Church in Scotland. It was the 
place to which, during his life-time, it was 
believed, that he frequently retired for the 
purpose of secret meditation and prayer. 

On Friday, the twenty-first of September, 
the Reverend Alexander Clark preached a 
sermon in the Church of Erchless, upon the 
subject which had so recently engaged the 
feelings of those who were there assembled, — 
the death of their young Chief. His text was 
from 2 Chron. xxxv. 24 : " And all Judah 
and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah." He de- 
livered the first part of the sermon in Gaelic, in 
which he showed the character of that sorrow 
which is felt by the Church, and by the world, 
when the righteous are removed in the midst 
of their usefulness. In the second part, which 
was delivered in English, he illustrated the 
happy condition of those who die in the Lord. 
The sermon has since been published ; and 
the writer is happy in possessing a copy of it, 
as containing a just description of the cha- 



242 HIS FUNERAL. 

racter of this Memoir \ The only exception 
which he makes to it is the opinion, errone- 
ously, as he believes, but no doubt sincerely, 
entertained by the preacher, of the Ohis- 
holnTs intention, with regard to the Church 

1 Several other acknowledgments of the Chisholm's 
excellent qualities, expressed in the language of unfeigned 
sympathy and truth, have been placed in the writer's 
hands, but he forbears to enumerate them. One testimony 
there is, however, too important to be passed over, and it 
is here subjoined. It is an address of condolence from the 
gentlemen of Skye to the Chisholm's mother, and was in 
the first instance communicated to her through Glengarry, 
the chief mourner at his funeral, with the expression of 
their regret that they were prevented from attending it. 

"Sligachan, 18th Sept. 1838. 
May it please your Ladyship, — We, the Under- 
signed, find it to be a duty incumbent on us to oifer to 
your Ladyship our most sincere condolence, and deepest 
sympathy, on the present visitation of the inscrutable 
decrees of an All-wise and beneficent Providence. 

" The sad bereavement that must now wring your Lady- 
ship's heart has cast its gloom over every portion of this 
remote part of the country. 

"When it may please the Almighty to temper your 
Ladyship's grief, the conviction that your amiable and 
distinguished son has been so universally respected and 
esteemed, will, we truly hope, materially assist to admi- 
nister consolation. 

" In your other son your Ladyship possesses an ample 
source of consolation ; besides the honours he acquired in 
the course of his education, he now fills a most honourable, 



HIS FUNERAL. 243 

of Scotland, which has been noticed in the 
preceding chapter 2 . 

responsible, and, to a young soldier, the most enviable post 
in Her Majesty's Military Service. 

" We have the honour to be 

" Your Ladyship's 
" Most obedient and humble servants, 

John Macleod of Rasay. 

Alex. Cumming, Grishernish. 

A. K. Mac Kinnon, Corry. 

M. M c Leod, Drynoch. 

EDW d . Gibbons, Feoclich. 

Donald M c Casktll, Rhuedunan. 

D. Mac Askill, Claighan. 

W™. McLeod, Orbost. 

Norman M c Leod, Ardmore. 

Kenneth Mac Askill, Carbost. 

Hugh Ross, Broadford. 

John Tolmie, Uiginish. 

John M c Naughton, Balmeanach. 

Kenneth M c Caskill, Kerpost. 

Norman MacLeod, Struan. 

John Matheson, Dunvegan. 

John MacRae, Glenvieaskill. 

John M c Naughten, Ose. 

Malcolm M c Caskill, Carbost More. 

Alex 1 ". Macleod, Kilphider. 

Alex 1 ". M c Naughten, Portree. 

Hugh Macaskill, of Talisker. 

Donald Macleod, Dunvegan. 

Martin Martin, Remtree. 

ARCH d . Stewart, Cuidrach. 

2 See p. 216. 
R2 



244 PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 

The personal appearance of the Chisholm 
was very prepossessing ; his stature was about 

Jn°. Macmillan, Camusunary. 
Donald M c Innes, Kyleakin. 
ALEX r . M c Leod, Vatri. 
Donald MacLean, Breamore. 
J. Macdonald, Scalpa. 
Patrick Nicolson, Kilbride, S.Uist. 
Donald M c Leod, Sligachan. 
John M c Lennan, Lyndale. 
Arch* 1 . Macdonald, Barra. 

C. Elder, Isle Oronsay. 

D. M c Donald of Ostaig. 

John Macpherson, Factor for Dr. 

M c Pherson. 
Jn°. Mackinnon, Minister of Strath. 

To this address, the present Chisholm, on his return 
from Canada, replied, in the following terms : — 

" Gentlemen, — The address forwarded from you to 
Lady Ramsay, by Mr. Macleod, of Rasay, offering condo- 
lence and sympathy on the death of my late beloved 
brother, has now, for the first time, been placed in my 
hands by my mother. It is with no ordinary feelings that 
I assume the task of replying to it. Under the affliction 
with which it has pleased Almighty God to visit me in the 
removal of my dearly-beloved and affectionate brother, it 
affords me consolation to know that his virtues have been 
appreciated, and that his loss is so sincerely and deeply 
regretted by those who have not been bound to him by the 
ties of a near relationship. To you he was endeared by 
the honourable and strict performance of public duties, 
and by the feelings of private friendship, to me by the 



PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 245 

the middle height ; his limbs active and well 
made ; his complexion fair ; and his counte- 
nance, when lighted up with that smile of 
cheerfulness, which they who knew him will so 
well remember, was singularly pleasing in its 
expression. It might be inferred, from the fre- 

closer bands of a brother's love. We have suffered a 
common loss ; and, in our grief, let us have this common 
feeling, that the visitation has come from an All-wise, 
although to us an inscrutable Providence. Tempered with 
such a feeling would he, whom we lament, have wished 
our grief to be. I thank you for the kind mention of me, 
with which you sought to pour balm into the wounded 
heart of my mother. May God, who alone is able, give 
me the power, as I trust I have the inclination, to follow 
in the footsteps of him whom I have succeeded. 

" I have relinquished my profession, much as I loved 
it, from the conviction that change of circumstances might 
require my exertions in some other sphere. Allow me to 
conclude this imperfect reply, by quoting a paragraph 
from the letter in which my mother, Lady Ramsay, trans- 
mitted your address to me. 

" c In offering to the gentlemen of Skye my most grate- 
ful thanks for their address of condolence, I, at the same 
time, beg you will assure them of my warmest gratitude 
for all their kindness to him, whose loss they so feelingly, 
and, I am sure, so sincerely deplore.' 

" Gentlemen, I will add no more. I beg you to accept 
my most heartfelt thanks ; and have the honour to be, 

" Your most obedient, 

" Duncan W. Chisholm." 



246 OBJECT OF THE MEMOIR. 

quent mention of his illnesses in the preceding 
pages, that his bodily energies must have been 
much weakened, and prone to lassitude. But 
this was far from being the case. -On the 
contrary, there was an ardour of temperament 
about him, joined to a strength of nerve and 
elasticity of limb, which stimulated him, upon 
every return to health, to the most arduous 
and active exercise of the body ; and it is 
possible, indeed, that the fatal malady, which 
cut short his life, may have been hastened, if 
not caused, by some such overstrained and 
fatiguing efforts. 

The writer attempts not to draw, in formal 
and elaborate terms, the character of his de- 
parted friend. He believes that it has been 
exhibited already in the evidence supplied ; 
and if, from the perusal, a single impulse shall 
have been imparted to holiness of life, to 
watchfulness, and to prayer, he will rejoice in 
having been the instrument to communicate 
it through these pages. 

The following is the inscription which the 
present Ohisholm has caused to be engraved, 
in Gaelic and English, upon the obelisk which 
he has erected upon his brother's grave : — 



EPITAPH. 247 

To the Memory of 
ALEXANDER WILLIAM CHISHOLM, 

Who entered into Glory on the 8th September, 1838, 

Aged 28. 

This Monument is erected by his most attached Brother. 

To an affectionate and amiable disposition, he united the 
sterling characteristics of active benevolence and truly 
Christian piety. His memory will long be cherished in 
the grateful hearts of the many, whose spiritual welfare he 
so earnestly sought to promote, and to whose temporal 
wants he ever liberally ministered. Short was his day 
upon earth, but in it he fulfilled " life's great end," and is 
gone not to Death, but to enjoy the Crown of Life, to 
which he became heir by a lively faith through the merits 
of Christ Jesus, our Saviour. 

* Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last 
end be like his ;" for, 

" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." 




LONDON: 
GILBERT AND R1VINGTON, PRINTERS, 

ST. John's square. 



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